Alert: The XBB.1.5 Variant Is Taking Over On The East Coast.

The XBB.1.5 variant is taking over on the East Coast. Is California exempt from this scenario?

XBB.1.5 is more contagious and resistant to existing immunity than previous variants.

XBB.1.5 accounts for 40.5% of SARS-CoV-2 specimens in the US in the final week of 2022.

XBB.1.5 is particularly prevalent in the Northeast, where it accounts for more than 72% of cases.

XBB.1.5 accounts for 9.2% of cases in the region including California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and the Pacific islands.

In Los Angeles County, XBB.1.5 accounted for 5% of coronaviruses two weeks ago, but this is expected to increase.

XBB.1.5 is more infectious, evades immunity better, and emerged in late fall to spread during the holiday season.

XBB.1.5 is rapidly replacing other Omicron subvariants globally.

Early data suggests XBB.1.5 and XBB.1 do not cause more serious disease than previous forms of the virus.

XBB.1.5 does not respond to treatment with monoclonal antibodies, but does respond to Paxlovid.