In the phase where everything is getting back to normal, or basically in the recovery stage, a new variant of COVID-19 has been discovered in Malaysia.
According to China Press, Rajeev Venkayya, the Assistant Dean of Research and a Professor at the New York Institute of Technology has announced that the new variant, Arcturus (XBB.1.16) has officially entered Malaysia.
What is Arcturus (XBB.1.16)?
The Arcturus, or XBB.1.16, is a subvariant of the Omicron virus. This variant was first detected in India in January 2023 and added to the WHO’s list of variants under monitoring. It is a recombinant or hybrid variant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75, which are descendants of the Omicron variant BA.2. Since it caused a surge of cases in India, it also has spread to at least 33 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, Australia, and more.
Symptoms Arcturus (XBB.1.16)
The Arcturus variant can cause symptoms like a sore throat, a runny nose, fever, lethargy, cough, headaches, muscle pain, and abdominal discomfort. Furthermore, many patients reported conjunctivitis and itching eyes, two symptoms not seen in earlier COVID-19 waves.
Malaysians, a big sigh relief, as it appears that the current vaccinations are effective in preventing this type of coronavirus variant.
Public health officials suggest wearing face masks in public due to the recent rise of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia and the predicted increase in social events for the approaching Hari Raya festival.
Hence, make sure to always wear mask in the large crowds and keep yourself safe.
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