Arcturus COVID variant shows new symptom and increased infectivity.
TL;DR
The new highly contagious COVID variant, XBB.1.16 or Arcturus, is causing a surge in infections in India and is associated with a new symptom in children, "itchy" conjunctivitis or pinkeye without pus. Pediatric COVID cases are on the rise in India, with an "infantile phenotype" emerging. The variant is currently being monitored by the CDC and the World Health Organization, but is not widely spreading in the U.S. Scientists do not expect it to be more lethal than other variants and it will likely cause a milder illness resembling the flu.
- Arcturus COVID variant: XBB.1.16 has new symptom in children AL.com
- 'Arcturus,' A Highly Transmissible Covid Variant Has A New Symptom. Here's What You Need To Know India Today
- New COVID variant Arcturus may be 1.2 times more infectious than Kraken strain New York Post
- What is the 'Arcturus' COVID variant and what are the symptoms? Yahoo News
- COVID-19: Highly-Infectious 'Arcturus' Variant First Detected In NY Now Identified In 27 States Daily Voice
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on AL.com