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Maria Van Kerkhove

COVID-19: Highly-Infectious 'Arcturus' Variant Detected In PA COVID-19: Highly-Infectious 'Arcturus' Variant Detected In PA
Covid-19: Highly-Infectious 'Arcturus' Variant Detected In PA A new COVID-19 variant first detected in New York in January has now been identified in 27 states, including Pennsylvania. The so-called Arcturus strain — officially known as XBB.1.16 — is believed to be one of the most infectious versions of Omicron to date.  Shortly after the World Health Organization began monitoring the variant in late March, cases had been reported in about two dozen countries. The WHO says Arcturus is a "recombinant" of COVID subvariants BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75. In addition to New York, XBB.1.16 has also been confirmed in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, V…
New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried
New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried Another COVID-19 variant with multiple mutations is the subject of a special meeting called by the World Health Organization for Friday. The meeting on the B.1.1.529 variant detected in South Africa will focus on what the new variant means for treatments and vaccines, the organization said Thursday. The WHO was expected to give the new variant a name on Friday. WHO's technical COVID-19 lead Maria Van Kerkhove said in live Q&A briefing that a virus with many mutations impacts the nature of how it behaves. UK Health Security agent Sajid Javid says much is still unknown about the new var…