Bloom LabJan 2, 2023

I wanted to summarize what is known about the new XBB.1.5 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which is starting to generate a lot of interest.

(There are no new scientific results in this thread, it simply aggregates previously reported results for those not following topic closely.)

Show threadBloom LabJan 2, 2023

Reason people are discussing XBB.1.5 is because it's so transmissible. Below are estimates of current Rt (measure of transmissibility) of different variants in US from @trvrb's group.

XBB.1.5 is more transmissible than other variants like BQ.1.1 that until recently dominated in US.

Show threaddr 🛠️🛰️📡🎧
@jbloom_lab @trvrb Is there a 2D version of this graph that plots Rt vs lethality?
Jan 2, 2023 at 9:21pmWeb
Show threadElizabeth Wrigley-FieldJan 2, 2023
@davidr @jbloom_lab @trvrb Very hard to pin down lethality across variants when population immunity is always shifting so much
Show threaddr 🛠️🛰️📡🎧Jan 2, 2023
@wrigleyfield @jbloom_lab @trvrb Wouldn't that also apply to transmissibility?
Show threadElizabeth Wrigley-FieldJan 2, 2023

@davidr @jbloom_lab @trvrb

Yes, good point. But less so, I would expect, since vaccines (and presumably infection-based immunity too) are less effective in reducing transmission than hospitalization etc