A new strain of covid has been confirmed in the UK.
Known as Arcturus, it was first identified in January and it is understood to be more infectious than the most recent sub-variant of Omicron.
Arcturus has been classified as a 'variant of interest' by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Belfast Live reports. And an outbreak in India has sparked a reintroduction of compulsory face masks in some parts of the country.
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Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organisation's (WHO) explained: "This is one to watch. We're monitoring it because it has potential changes that we need to keep a good eye out on."
Along with the usual Covid symptoms of fever and coughs, infected people in India have also reported suffering from "itchy" conjunctivitis or pinkeye.
Dr Connor Bamford, from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen's University Belfast explained what is known so far about the latest variant.
What is the Arcturus variant?
Dr Bamford said: "Arcturus is a name that some people have given to the last variant of SARS-CoV-2 (that causes covid). The scientific name is XBB.1.16 and it is a mix of two Omicron variants that were previously circulating.
What are its symptoms?
Dr Bamford said: "Likely mostly similar to before with most people exhibiting mild cold-like symptoms but with the capacity to cause severe lung infection in vulnerable people. There is also the very real risk of long covid. For XBB.1.16, some have noted conjunctivitis (sticky, crusty eyes) in kids."
Should current immunity levels help to minimise the impact of this new variant?
Dr Bamford said: "I believe that the current levels of immunity built up from vaccination and infection will help against each new variant even if more infectious, but the vulnerable may need more help (vaccines)."
Will booster vaccines prove effective?
Dr Bamford said: "Current booster vaccines should be helpful against this variant as will previous recent infection. As covid is not going away, vaccination (including boosters) offers the best protection from infection and disease, especially if vulnerable (such as the elderly)."
Is it a case of concern rather than alarm?
Dr Bamford said: "This should be a slight concern but what I feel more concerning is that even between waves covid does not go away and I feel we do not have a strong enough plan in place to safeguard the population across the year.
"We need more investment in surveillance of the virus, next-generation vaccines, and better treatments for the vulnerable in the community and in hospital."
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