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New Variants of Covid-19 (Xbb.1.5 and Xbb.1.16, the “Arcturus”): A Review of Highly Questioned Concerns, a Brief Comparison Between Different Peaks in the Covid-19 Pandemic, With a Focused Systematic Review on Expert Recommendations for Prevention, Vaccination, and Treatment Measures in the General Population and At-Risk Groups Publisher Pubmed



Pourriyahi H1 ; Hajizadeh N2 ; Khosravi M2 ; Pourriahi H1 ; Soleimani S1, 3 ; Hosseini NS4 ; Mohammad AP2 ; Goodarzi A5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Rasool Akram Medical Complex Clinical Research Development Center (RCRDC), School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Dermatology, Rasool Akram Medical Complex Clinical Research Development Center (RCRDC), School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Published:2024


Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken many forms and continues to evolve, now around the Omicron wave, raising concerns over the globe. With COVID-19 being declared no longer a “public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC),” the COVID pandemic is still far from over, as new Omicron subvariants of interest and concern have risen since January of 2023. Mainly with the XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 subvariants, the pandemic is still very much “alive” and “breathing.”. Methods: This review consists of five highly concerning questions about the current state of the COVID Omicron peak. We searched four main online databases to answer the first four questions. For the last one, we performed a systematic review of the literature, with keywords “Omicron,” “Guidelines,” and “Recommendations.”. Results: A total of 31 articles were included. The main symptoms of the current Omicron wave include a characteristically high fever, coughing, conjunctivitis (with itching eyes), sore throat, runny nose, congestion, fatigue, body ache, and headache. The median incubation period of the symptoms is shorter than the previous peaks. Vaccination against COVID can still be considered effective for the new subvariants. Conclusion: Guidelines recommend continuation of personal protective measures, third and fourth dose boosters, along with administration of bivalent messenger RNA vaccine boosters. The consensus antiviral treatment is combination therapy using Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir, and the consensus for pre-exposure prophylaxis is Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab combination. We hope the present paper raises awareness for the continuing presence of COVID and ways to lower the risks, especially for at-risk groups. © 2024 The Author(s). Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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