The XBB.1.5 subline of the omicron variant of the coronavirus does not pose a major risk to most people in Europe, according to ECDC, the EU health authority.
The risk posed by XBB.1.5 to the general population in the European Economic Area (EEA) is classified as low, health experts wrote in an assessment published on Friday.
Risk for elderly, unvaccinated and immunocompromised
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.
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.
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