Why is the XBB Variant Not Dangerous in India?
The Health Ministry has rejected the fake and misleading claims on social media that the XBB sub-variant is 5 times more dangerous than the Delta variant.
Yesterday we released about the Covid situation in China which has caused panic not just in India but also around the world. But along with taking all the necessary precautions and being careful, it is important for all of us to stay away from rumors, especially the ones circulating on social media like WhatsApp and Instagram. One such rumored message is taking rounds on WhatsApp, which claims that the currently active Omicron sub-variant is five times more contagious & dangerous than the Delta variant, which caused a massive & disastrous second wave in India in 2021. However, the Union Health Ministry of India has issued a statement rejecting the “fake and misleading” claims on social media that the XBB sub-variant of Omicron is “5 times more dangerous than the Delta variant and has a higher mortality rate”.
Although XBB is the current dominant variant now, it caused more than 65% of the infections in the country in November 2022, but it is definitely not as deadly as the delta variant. XBB is a combination of two Omicron sub-variants, BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75. Several studies have shown that XBB is more resistant to vaccine immunity. What this essentially means is that the variant is more likely to cause reinfection. This, however, does not mean that the variant can lead to more severe disease, hospitalisations, or deaths. An analysis by an expert group of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in October 2022 said that there has been a broad increase in cases of XBB variant, however the current data do not suggest that it is more dangerous than the other variants. Moreover, unlike the Delta variant that went deep into the lungs and led to a fall in oxygen saturation, Omicron variants are known to affect the upper respiratory tract, that is the nostrils, nasal cavity, mouth, and throat. The virus can go into the lungs in some cases. XBB follows a disease pattern that is similar to its older Omicron variants.
This, along with the high vaccination rate and low infection rate, would be very less impactful in India. So, in most people, the XBB variant is likely to lead to a fever, cough, and cold. In case of any symptoms, kindly consult your doctor. The number of cases has remained low, with an average of only 158 cases reported daily from across the country during the last week ended December 19, it is not seen as a big threat in the country.
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