Covid variant ‘swarm’ of potent substrains could fuel winter surge, experts warn

A ‘SWARM’ of Covid substrains could fuel a winter surge of the bug, experts have warned.

In previous waves, variants such as Alpha, Gamma and Delta have all reigned on their own.

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Currently, Omicron is the main strain circulating, which has been proven to be milder than others that came before it.

However, specialists have now said that there could be a collection of three substrains that all circulate together.

It comes as experts in Singapore have warned over the XBB substrain – which is thought to be down to a rise in cases in the area.

This, medics say, could rule alongside strains named BQ.1.1 and BA.2.75.2.

While they all seem to be off-shoots of Omicron, each one may have the ability to dodge defences already in places, such as vaccines.

Last month there were concerns over BA.2.75 in South Asia, then there was concern around B.A.4.6 and BF.7 in the US.

This along with the threat from XBB means many scientists are worried about the possible potential for this viruses to infect and harm more people.

Expert on viral evolution at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Jesse Bloom told the Washington Post, that just because these substrains haven’t been given names, it doesn’t mean the virus has stopped evolving.

Another guru has been ranking the new substrains, and so far, says XBB is the best at escaping immunity.

Computational biologist at the University of Basel in Switzerland, Cornelius Roemer said that the concern is that boosters being rolled out now could be outpaced.

Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London said: “These lineages are going to have a greater ability to reinfect people than what is currently circulating … which is very likely to drive or contribute to infection waves over the winter.”

The warning comes as cases have started to tick up across the UK.

Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) today revealed that deaths with Covid were up 39 per cent in the last week.

That’s while infection rates have also climbed by over 30 per cent in the last week.

While figures still remain lower than previous waves, Brits were recently warned to stay away from the elderly if they feel unwell – in order to stop them becoming seriously ill.

VIRAL MONITOR

There’s no evidence to suggest that XBB is currently circulating in the UK – but there is still ongoing surveillance across infections.

Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at the UKHSA said: “UKHSA continues to monitor and assess all emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, both in the UK and around the world.

“As we head into winter and cases rise, make sure you have any Covid-19 vaccinations you are eligible for and avoid contact with others if you are unwell or have symptoms of a respiratory infection.”

However, not everyone has been able to have a vaccine and campaigners this week urged the government to make anti-viral drug Evusheld available.

Those who couldn’t have jabs, such as those living with cancer or the immunocompromised have little protection.

Health experts and charities said the drug would give more freedom to those who have had to isolate.

However the government said more data was needed.

The concern is, that the drug could be outdated by the end of the year if new drugs take over.

The Department of Health said it’s urgently looking into commissioning a clinical trial for the drug.

Assistant professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School, Jonathan Abraham added that we can’t continue to sit on our hands and assume ‘everyone is fine’.

He explained that vulnerable people can’t be forgotten about and said there is still ‘room for evolution’ when it comes to Covid variants.