New Omicron sub-variant, named ‘Orthos’, detected in Mauritius

Health authorities have detected a new Omicron sub-variant in Mauritius. Tests conducted on 90 COVID-19 positive individuals between 19 to 26 December revealed that 12 patients were infected with the CH.1.1 sub-variant.

Named Orthos, the sub-variant is reportedly an offshoot of the Delta and could be of concern as it is more pathogenic than other variants.

This new sub-variant was first identified in November in Leicestershire (UK). By 25 December, it already accounted for 16% of the COVID-19 infections in the UK and is on its way to become the dominant variant in the UK.

According to the latest sequencing tests in Mauritius, the XBB.1.5, nicknamed the Kraken, which the World Health Organisation described as the ‘most transmissible sub-variant detected to date’, was not yet detected.

Source: Defi Media