Expert: XBB subvariant of Omicron unlikely to cause new infection peak in China

SHANGHAI- The XBB subvariant of Omicron is unlikely to cause a new infection peak in China in the near future, said a Shanghai-based expert on infectious diseases, according to Xinhua news Agency.

There have been mounting public concerns in China about the new XBB sub-strain coming from overseas and the possible reinfections among those who have just recovered from the recent COVID-19 outbreak.

Wang Xinyu, deputy director of the infectious disease department of the Shanghai-based Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, said the recent COVID-19 upsurge has reduced the number of susceptible individuals in China, so it is unlikely for the XBB to bring a new peak in infection in the short term.

“People who have just recovered have a pretty high level of antibodies. They are less likely to be infected by the XBB variant compared with those who have never been vaccinated or infected,” he told Xinhua in an interview.

The doctor also said the chances of developing serious conditions during reinfections are much lower for those who have previously been infected by similar sub-variants.

Wang’s view echoed that of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which predicted a low possibility of a large-scale epidemic caused by the XBB.

Source: Xinhua

Edited by Hamda Mustafa