The state of Maharashtra again witnessing a surge in COVID-19 days before Diwali is approaching owing to a new highly infectious Omicron subvariant, XBB.

Experts claim that the XXB variety is the most contagious one and that it has sharply increased in the previous week in the heavily populated areas of Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Raigad. The Maharashtra Health Department reported an increase in cases of over 17.7% between October 10 and October 16. According to the state public health department on Wednesday, 18 cases of the new extremely contagious Omicron subvariant, XBB, have been found in Maharashtra in the previous 15 days. 

This most recent and potent coronavirus variant is thought to result from accumulating mutations in the virus spike surface protein. The XXB sub-variant, which has so far spread to 17 nations, is thought to have a growth advantage over the BA.2.75 and BJ.1 sub-variants.

The genome sequencing of the variant revealed that nearly 90% of new infections in India over the previous six months were brought on by the BA.2.75 variant, while the XXB variant infected only 7%. The variation has had a sharp and rapid rise globally and in Singapore, where it was first identified in August of this year.

(Source:

1. https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/other/xxb-likely-to-be-most-contagious-covid-variant-as-cases-surge-across-maharashtra-ahead-of-diwali/ar-AA13aui9?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=7ca85ae9e6564ddd825f0d4cade8189c
2. https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/diagnostics/eighteen-cases-of-new-omicron-subvariant-xbb-found-in-maharashtra/94980099 )