XBB.1.5 became the majority subvariant in Covid sequencing in the United States this week. But where is it in France? Answer.
XBB.1.5 is of increasing international concern given its explosion in the United States. In France, experts, the media and the population fear the spread. But where is it exactly? Does this sub-variant exist? Is it majority?
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Covid-19: XBB.1.5 variant is ‘the most transmissible yet discovered’, should we be concerned?
XBB.1.5 dominates in France “within a month or two”
According to a US health official, XBB.1.5 is a relative of the Omicron XBB variant, which is a recombinant of Omicron subvariants BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75. In the United States, this new subvariant has overtaken the other dominant (and with those common in France) variants and has become the majority.
Of all lab sequencing in America, XBB.1.5 was recognized the most, with a rate of 43%. A week ago it was only second to BQ.1.1 with 30.4% of sequencing.
This transatlantic spread, coupled with various other factors, has led the European Union Health Agency (ECDC) to believe that XBB.1.5 “could become the dominant strain in European countries, including France, within a month or two.” reports BFM TV.
XBB.1.5 is struggling to establish itself in France
In France, however, this sub-variant of Omicron is struggling to find a place. “The XBB.1.5 subline, widespread in the United States, appears to be circulating quietly in mainland France. It was first detected in week 48 of 2022 (November 28 to December 4) and has since remained at very low levels (less than 1%),” explains Public Health France’s latest report on the last week of December.
At the moment, “the BQ.1.1 subline is the most commonly recognized. It represents (all sublines included) 69% of the survey sequences in the last week of 2022, followed by BF.7 (5%), BQ. 1 (4%) and BA.5.2 (1%)”, analyzes the Public Health France flash survey.