Fearmongering beings again new Covid variant called ‘Kraken’ see WHO issuing warning – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

Fearmongering beings again new Covid variant called ‘Kraken’ see WHO issuing warning




The latest strain of the Covid-19 virus, which is understood to be “ultra-transmissible”, has caused great concern.

Several health experts have issued a warning after the variant jumped the Atlantic and started spreading in the UK after being detected in the US several days ago.

The XBB.1.5 variant has been dubbed “The Kraken” and is currently rampant in the United States, as well as parts of Great Britain.

The World Health Organization’s technical lead for Covid, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, also expressed concern about the rapid growth of the new variant.

Speaking at a press conference, she said: “We are concerned about its growth advantage in particular in some countries in Europe and in the US, particularly the Northeast part of the United States, where XBB.1.5 has rapidly replaced other circulating variants,” reports The Mirror.

Meanwhile, Professor Lawrence Young of the University of Warwick told Mail Online the new variant will be a “wake-up call” for the UK.

He said, “The XBB.1.5 variant is highly infectious and is driving increased hospital admissions in New York, particularly among the elderly,” reports The Mirror.

XBB.1.5 has yet to be detected in Ireland, however it is likely to arrive in the coming weeks, as is the case with most variants originating overseas.

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