XBB.1.5
A new sub-variant of Corona XBB.1.5 has been found in America. This is said to be the fastest spreading variant ever. Its speed is 104 times faster than the earlier variant.
How this sub-variant produced?
When two corona variants named BJ1 and BM1.1.1 met together, the DNA ie genetic material of both of them got combined. This led to XBB. Then the XBB variant mutated and became XBB1. After this, once again there was a G2502V mutation in XBB1, after which it became the XBB.1.5 variant.
How it affects us?
After entering our body, this virus first affects the protein (HACE receptor) of the cell. This is the first stage of spreading the infection inside the body. The capacity of this virus to stick to the cell is more than the rest of the variants. This is the reason that it infects more and more people.
Being a sub variant of Omicron, it affects more on the upper part of our chest.
Why it could be dangerous?
XBB.1.5 variant is so dangerous that it spreads infection in our body by neutralizing the vaccination and naturally made anti-bodies. Not only this, this infection spreads in our body 104 times faster than all the variants till now. So far we do not have any such vaccine or immunity that can prevent infection with this virus.
How much protection vaccine could give us?
All the vaccines made in the world have only 30 to 40 percent ability to protect against corona virus infection. Most of the vaccine was made to protect people from the first variant alpha virus of corona, but since then the corona virus has changed its form many times.
However, some vaccines have been updated to protect against the BA5 subvariant. Despite this, as new variants are coming out, the protection index of these vaccines i.e. the capacity to give protection is decreasing.
What is our responsibility?
People should “be cautious” and keep their elders and children isolated while advising against stepping outside unnecessarily. Follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and most importantly mask up.
Infected individuals only need to be kept apart and their samples sent for genome sequencing; they do not need to be sent to a hospital.
Can we succeed in stopping corona virus?
Corona virus will never end. We have to learn to live with it. New vaccine or booster dose with every new variant is not the solution as it creates hyper immunity in the body.
Hyper immunity is more dangerous for the human body than infection. The best is natural immunity, which is present in our body for a long time. It is much better than the immunity obtained from booster dose. Booster dose is the only solution for those who are old or suffering from some serious illness.
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