From . – 01.13.2023 16:12 (act. 01.14.2023 12:00)
ECDC assesses the risk of corona variant XBB.1.5 as low. ©Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP (symbol image)
The EU health authority ECDC does not see an increased risk for most people in Europe from the XBB.1.5 corona variant. The authority recommends more tests and vaccines.
The risk posed by the XBB.1.5 corona variant to the general population in the European Economic Area (EEA) is classified as low by the EU health authority ECDC, according to health experts in an assessment published on Friday.
Corona XBB.1.5 variant will be dominant in Europe in one to two months
On the other hand, there is moderate to high risk, depending on immunity to corona virus, for vulnerable people like elderly, unvaccinated and immunocompromised. Although the number of corona cases is still small, the Stockholm-based authority expects the virus to spread quickly. Mathematical models indicated that XBB.1.5 could become dominant in the EEA in less than one to two months, the assessment said. Therefore, there is currently no evidence that infection with XBB.1.5 results in a more severe disease course than infection with earlier omicron underscores.
ECDC recommends more corona testing and vaccines
Currently, XBB.1.5 is only represented at a very low level in the EEA, but it could already dominate in the coming months, explained German ECDC director Andrea Ammon. Therefore, ECDC recommends conducting and evaluating testing, administering more corona vaccines, and strengthening infection prevention and control measures. In addition to the 27 EU member states, the EEA also includes Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.