'Kraken' may soon become dominant Covid variant in UK, health chiefs warn trends now

'Kraken' may soon become dominant Covid variant in UK, health chiefs warn trends now
'Kraken' may soon become dominant Covid variant in UK, health chiefs warn trends now

'Kraken' may soon become dominant Covid variant in UK, health chiefs warn trends now

'Kraken' may soon become dominant Covid variant in UK: Health chiefs issue warning over XBB.1.5 – and flag ANOTHER strain nickname ‘Orthrus’

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The 'Kraken' Covid variant could soon become the dominant Covid strain in the UK, health chiefs warned today.

XBB.1.5 — a spin-off of Omicron — is thought to be the most transmissible strain yet, having surged to prominence in the US in recent weeks.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) experts claimed the strain, which made up 4.5 per cent of cases between Boxing Day and New Year's Day, is the next variant 'most likely to predominate in the UK'.

And they raised concerns CH.1.1 — nicknamed 'Orthrus', a mythical two-headed dog — could also soon become dominant.

Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, shows 4 per cent of cases in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5 (shown in purple, bottom right corner)

Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, shows 4 per cent of cases in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5 (shown in purple, bottom right corner)

Cases are estimated to have doubled

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