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Reuters
Reuters
Health

WHO says coronavirus variant XBB.1.5 may be driving cases

FILE PHOTO: Small figurines are seen in front of displayed World Health Organization logo in this illustration taken February 11, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Ilustration

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that the XBB.1.5 Omicron sub-variant of COVID-19 may be spurring more cases.

"Based on its genetic characteristics and early growth rate estimates, XBB.1.5 may contribute to increases in

case incidence," the WHO said after a Jan. 5 technical meeting.

However, it said that it had only "low confidence" in the assessment as data was mostly coming from just one country, the United States, which has provided more than 80% of sequences.

(Reporting by Emma Farge)

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