COVID-19: Omicron ‘Orthrus’ variant unlikely to cause another wave in China, says health officials

After a big wave of Omicron XBB and BF.7 variants in December 2022, China's health authority is eyeing a new sub-line. Experts say the Omicron CH.1.1 subvariant, also known as 'Orthrus', is unlikely to cause another wave of outbreaks on land in the near future. The latest variant is becoming more widespread in Britain and the United States.

BA continues to be the most widespread variant in China. 5.2 and BF. 7, but 24 cases of CH. 1.1, a more portable sub-variant, was reported in China in the past three months, authorities said. “Despite an increased ability to resist immune responses and a higher transmissibility, which might increase breakthrough infection and reinfection risks, the population in China has a high level of neutralizing antibodies,” the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

CH.1.1 is an Omicron spawn that is now on the radar of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Acquired the Delta mutation, which is also present in BA.5.3 and BA.5.1.3, among other Omicron sublines. The CDC said the same mutation was found in CH. 1.1 is also present in other sub-variants such as BA. 5.3 and BA. 5.1.3 and it is still unclear whether the line could cause more severe disease symptoms.

The first case of CH. 1.1 in China was detected in November in the city of Tianjin, near Beijing, and was imported from Thailand, according to authorities. Another 23 cases were imported from 15 other regions and no local cases have been reported so far. India discovered the emerging subvariant in December 2022. From the first week of January CH. Infection 1.1 and its subgroup accounted for about 25 percent of total infections in the UK, according to the latest infection survey published by the Office for National Statistics.