The new Omicron variant CH.1.1 has been detected in over 60 countries, presents a certain degree of immune evasion ability. However, it shows no significant increase in its ability to cause disease, posing only a minimal threat to China, an expert was quoted as saying by Jiankang Shibao (Health Times) on Tuesday.
Statistics from outbreak.info, a community repository of COVID information which traces the COVID-19 epidemic showed that CH.1.1, also known as "Orthrus" a descendent of BA.2.75, has been detected in over 60 countries including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia and Ireland. In the US, 51 states have detected the new variant.
It emerged in Southeast Asia last fall and is now responsible for more than a quarter of infections in parts of the UK and New Zealand, according to a preprint paper released by researchers at Ohio State University.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been tracing the variant and estimated that it comprises 1.5 percent of US cases.
