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A new Covid variant is spreading throughout the United States, and it reportedly has a symptom known to be especially prevalent with small children: A form of “pink eye.”
The new variant of COVID-19, called Arcturus (Omicron XBB.1.16), was first identified in January 2023. It is rapidly making its way through several countries, including the United States, the UK, Australia, Singapore, China, and India, and is known to cause conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye.”
The Arcturus variant originated from the B.1.1.529 strain, also known as Omicron, which first appeared in South Africa in November 2021. Since then, the Omicron strain has undergone multiple mutations, resulting in variants like Omicron BA.2, BA.5, BA.2.75, BQ.1.1, and eventually the XBB strain.
As of April 2023, the XBB.1.5 strain, a descendant of the Omicron XBB strain, has spread worldwide, with the new variant XBB.1.16 (Arcturus) becoming prevalent in various countries.
Dr. Sean Lin, an American virology expert, told the Epoch Times that while it is difficult to predict the virus’s trajectory and pathogenicity, the public should be concerned but not panic. Dr. Lin stated that Arcturus is 36 times more contagious than the B.1.1 strain.
However, due to natural and vaccinated immunity, as well as other virological factors, it is not nearly as deadly as the original strain or the Delta variant.
A study published in Lancet Infectious Diseases on May 3, 2023, conducted by researchers from the University of Tokyo, found that the XBB.1.16 variant demonstrates a greater growth advantage in the human population compared to XBB.1 and XBB.1.5. Additionally, it exhibits significant immune evasion capabilities and potent resistance to various COVID-19 antibodies.
According to the Central Epidemic Command Center of the National Health Command Center in Taiwan, as of April 20, 2023, the XBB strain accounted for 77% of all COVID-19 variants globally. Among these variants, XBB.1.5 accounted for 47.9%, while Arcturus increased from 1% to 4%, with a rising trend in the United States.
Symptoms of Arcturus include fever, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, diarrhea, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Severe cases may exhibit hypoxic saturation and respiratory distress syndrome. Children with Arcturus may experience fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and other flu-like symptoms.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) suspects conjunctivitis (pink eye) as a symptom of the Arcturus subvariant, particularly in children. If a child presents with itchy and red eyes, AAO advises parents not to panic, as it can be a common eye condition unrelated to the variant. However, nucleic acid testing is recommended to confirm the presence of the virus.
