There's a new COVID-19 variant in India

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What to know about the new XBB.1.16 variant By Haley Weiss Health Reporter Over the weekend, India recorded its largest 24-hour increase in new COVID-19 cases in more than six months. The culprit is a recently-emerged Omicron subvariant called XBB1.16, which bears a close genomic resemblance to the XBB.1.5 variant responsible for most recent cases in the U.S. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described XBB.1.16 as “one to watch”—but there are a few key reasons why that isn’t as scary as it sounds. XBB.1.16 is good at spreading, but it isn’t causing serious illness. Dr. Monica Gandhi, associate division chief at UC San Francisco’s Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, told me that the new variant is still in line with what experts would expect to see as the disease evolves. “It's causing the expected rise in cases without a high rise in hospitalizations,” she says. India has done a great job providing boosters for its vulnerable populations. Per the WHO’s recommendations, this is the appropriate first step to take when new waves of cases hit areas with high population-level immunity. In the United States, it may be time for a new round of boosters anyway. Experts suggest that if XBB.1.16 does reach the U.S., boosting vulnerable populations who received the bivalent booster in early fall of 2022 could help slow cases.   READ MORE   Share the story

What else to read Long COVID Is Making Some People Choose Not to Have Kids By Jamie Ducharme "I really don't think my body could handle it." Read More » One in Six People Have Infertility, World Health Organization Says By Suzi Ring/Bloomberg Researchers found little difference between high, middle, and low-income countries. Read More » What Causes Bloating—and What to Do About It By Markham Heid A look at what causes bloating, the most effective treatment options to relieve it, and the relationship between bloating and periods. Read More » Sleeping Well Can Keep Your Heart Healthy By Tara Law New research finds that sleep plays an important role in protecting against cardiovascular problems like stroke. Read More » Feeling Off? It Could Be ‘Ambient’ Stress By Jamie Ducharme It's everywhere during the pandemic. Read More »

ONE LAST READ Making art is really good for the brain In the education world, art often isn’t treated with the same respect as “serious” subjects like math and science. But, as NPR reports, kids (and adults!) who practice the arts enjoy a host of brain-boosting benefits, from stronger memory and creative thought to better mental health. Read More »

If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, click here. Today's newsletter was written by Haley Weiss and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Angela Haupt.

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