Warnings have been issued
It comes as the new variant, more formally known as Omicron XBB.1.16, spreads across the UK with cases confirmed in the North West. It is present across all regions, aside from the North East.
Reports from doctors in India, where the strain is rife, have said they are seeing more children and adolescents with the subvariant presenting with conjunctivitis - or pink eye. However, he says: "I think there needs to be more studies based on that, but certainly observationally it seems to be happening."
He explained there are other viruses which can cause pink eye - including adenovirus which is common in spring and summer. It was during this surge that XBB.1.16 caught the attention of experts around the world. The World Health Organisation first detected the subvariant in January and on March 22 they designated it a variant under monitoring.
"It's very similar in profile to XBB.1.5. But has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increased infectivity as well potential increased pathogenicity. So it's one that we are monitoring. It has potential changes that we need to keep a good eye on."
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