The first death due to the new Omicron subvariant, XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, was reported in Thailand on April 20 amid a global surge in COVID-19 cases.
Dr. Supakit Sirilak, the Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences, told Thailand’s PBS news agency that the deceased was an elderly foreign man with underlying health conditions.
“This death may not directly reflect the severity of this subvariant, but it does highlight its impact on individuals with high-risk factors,” Dr. Supakit Sirilak added.
Arcturus is a subvariant of Omicron, believed to be less severe than earlier variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Arcturus is thought to be more transmissible than the XBB.1.5 “Kraken” subvariant. However, initial studies indicate that this variant does not cause more severe disease in those infected.
The Arcturus variant may cause milder illness compared to earlier variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. (Illustrative image).
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, a COVID-19 expert at the World Health Organization (WHO), reported that the Arcturus variant was first identified in January 2023. She also mentioned that laboratory studies suggest the new variant “may spread more rapidly and could lead to new COVID-19 infection waves.”
Dr. Maria further noted that the Arcturus variant has been detected in many countries, with the highest number of cases concentrated in India, where it is currently the dominant variant.
To date, over 20 countries have reported the Arcturus variant. According to the UK Health Security Agency, the number of infections with the new variant in the UK is under 100, and there have been no severe cases.
The Arcturus variant may cause symptoms similar to those of a cold or flu, including:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Fatigue (mild to severe)
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
However, Dr. Vipin Vashishtha, a pediatrician and former director of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, indicated that the spread of the Arcturus variant in India appears to have led to a new symptom not observed in prior COVID-19 waves. He stated that there has been an increase in eye-related symptoms among children infected with Arcturus. Many of the children he treats present with fever, cough, and conjunctivitis characterized by itchiness and excessive eye discharge.
Nonetheless, there is currently no evidence proving that the Arcturus variant can cause eye symptoms in children.
Initial studies suggest that Arcturus is not a variant of concern. The rollout of vaccinations may help protect the public from this subvariant. Although there are still infections among vaccinated individuals, this does not mean that the new subvariant is likely to cause severe disease.
