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What we know about the 'kraken' Covid variant XBB.1.5 and why it's causing concern

By Low De Wei

05 Jan 2023 · 4 min read

Editor's Note

This variant has quickly become dominant in the U.S., caused waves of infection in Singapore and India and reached at least 28 other countries. Bloomberg explains why it's the most transmissible yet.

A new Covid variant that was first detected last year has quickly become the dominant strain in the U.S. - and picked up a creepy moniker along the way.

Nicknamed the "kraken variant" by some, it surged through the nation and has now been identified in at least 28 other countries, according to the World Health Organization. Is it more dangerous? Does it spread more easily? And how will it affect China's Covid outbreak?

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