A new COVID-19 variant is taking over parts of the country. Northeast Ohio doctors say they’re keeping a close eye out and bracing for a possible surge.
“The data that we do have does suggest that it’s spreading quickly, more quickly than other variants,” said Dr. Daniel Rhoads, head of microbiology at Cleveland Clinic.
Rhoads said while doctors are still waiting to learn more about variant XBB.1.5, early indicators show it’s spreading fast, may be more contagious and is evading immunity more than other omicron variants.
According to CDC data, this new variant rose from 4% to 40% of new infections just in December and has caused about 75% of new cases in the Northeast part of the country.
“It looks like it will likely be able to bind with higher affinity to the ACE-2 receptor in the human to cause infection and also it is likely able to avoid the antibodies that most of us already have from vaccines and previous infections,” Rhoads said.
Monica Robins reports: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/northeast-ohio-doctors-express-concerns-over-new-covid-19-variant/95-53c9816e-7b75-4bb9-b5a3-a60036b649c8 —
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