Here's the latest variant picture for the UK - a global bellwether for new variants with it's low protections/mitigations.

As of late January, BA.2.86.* "Pirola" (94%) was dominant - with JN.1 the leading sub-lineage (59%).

JN.1.4 (14%) is showing some growth. JN.1.4 adds the ORF1a T170I mutation to JN.1. It seems that gives it a slight advantage, but hopefully not enough to cause widespread reinfections.

#COVID19 #UK #BA_2_86 #Pirola #XDD #XDK
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Update for 12/8-9/2023!

Good morning SARS2PAians!

I hope your early winter is going well! ❄️❄️❄️

There's no new CDC county info today.

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VOCs

Nationally, HV.1 still at over 25% of random sequencing. JN.1 right behind it at a distant 5% but we'll see how well it fares against a variant that is clocking in at a very similar speed.: https://ibb.co/fYDyhcW

XDD is a variant discovered a few weeks ago that is a recombo of EG.5.1.1 (which ="HK") and JN.1, and is clocked as faster or equally as fast as JN.1 in theory, and must be closely watched.

In PA, HV.1 at over 20%. FL.1.5.1 at over 10% of random sequencing. JN.1 is at 1.33%, still weirdly not climbing as fast. I see lots more people wearing masks as they are out and about so even a few people doing this will greatly help control things into January.: https://ibb.co/hWZXfg5

In NY/NJ, HV.1 at over 27% of random sequencing. JN.1 behind at 10% already 👀 👀 👀: https://ibb.co/HNhBRV8

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Wastewater

Nationally, wastewater SARS2 material increasing greatly through last time I posted it.: https://ibb.co/L6960t5

Regionally, SARS2 increasing or leveling in all regions, with the Midwest and northeast going almost vertical.: https://ibb.co/HH3NB2v

In PA, the few stations that are current are showing increases. Chester and Luzerne increasing exponentially! Bucks going vertical. MontCo doing soooooooo fantastic this whole time and now quickly catching up to national averages.: https://ibb.co/Z8GJtZ2

According to WastewaterSCAN, the Dauphin shed is also very steadily increasing concentration, too.: https://ibb.co/86F2K41

Please consider wearing quality respirators or tight-fitting surgical masks in these areas if you are out and about!

WastewaterSCAN shows SARS2, RSV and Norovirus (the "24 hr stomach flu") as all HIGH.: https://ibb.co/zXCqSGR

SARS2 HIGH in all regions.: https://ibb.co/LQN0JTB

All of these can contribute to ER cases and hospital stays. PLEASE use caution this winter as JN.1 plows through these leaderboards.

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CDC

The CDC NOWCAST has been updated for today, breaking out JN.1. You can see the bonkers estimated growth of this variant in chart form: https://ibb.co/LzBSY9S

and according to region in map form!: https://ibb.co/n8s7jj4

Guysssssssss please use some form of caution now before the rest of the major holidays. GET THOSE XBB VACCINATIONS. It's not bullet-proof but it's shown to help enough with JN.1 to get ASAP.

Wear those quality respirators. Keep careful track of who you hang out with through the winter to contribute to source-of-infection control. Test test test, repeatedly if needed as infective levels aren't always picked up by rapid tests.

Have a safe winter and if we all contribute to source control, we can have a GREAT post-holiday season!! ❄️❄️❄️

#covid #Covid19 #SARS2PA #CDC #CovidIsNotOver #Pennsylvania #PA #BA286 #JN1 #HV1 #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #VaccinesSaveLives #XDD #RSV #Norovirus #Wastewater

A new lineage XDD was recently classified and is showing some signs of growth, notably in Spain (3%) and France (2%).

XDD is a recombinant of EG.5.1.1*(HK) from the "Eris" clan and JN.1 - the most successful "Pirola" sub-lineage. So a very competitive pedigree.

As well as the leading countries shown in the chart, single samples have been reported from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, and the UK.

#COVID19 #XDD
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