The Covid surge in India is caused by new conjunctivitis-causing Omicron subvariant called Arcturus

It's no time to let the mask down. Covid-19 is still here. This time, a new Omicron subvariant called XBB.1.16, also dubbed Arcturus, is said to be driving the surge in Covid cases around the world, especially in India, with a strange new symptom.

India Covid numbers: 

• New Covid-19 cases (as of April 16): 10,093
• Total active cases: 57,542
• Deaths in the past 24 hours: 23
• Delhi remains the worst affected. 

#IndiaFightsCorona:

📍New #COVID19 cases in last 24 hours (As on 16th April, 2023): 10,093

✅Keep following #COVIDAppropriateBehaviour

➡️Always wear a mask
➡️Wash/sanitize hands regularly
➡️Maintain distancing
➡️Get yourself fully vaccinated#Unite2FightCorona #We4Vaccine pic.twitter.com/JG74DU4I6D

— #IndiaFightsCorona (@COVIDNewsByMIB) April 16, 2023

What do we know about Arcturus?

• The current Covid-19 surge in India is being blamed on the new strain called Arcturus. It seems that the strain was first seen in India. 
• The strain is causing a surprising new symptom not seen commonly in earlier Covid cases - pink eye. 
• The strain has been found in 22 countries including the US, UK, Singapore, and Australia. 
• The WHO has been keeping an eye on the strain since the end of March, while the US CDC has added it to the watchlist. 

#Arcturus XBB.1.16 & its progenies are still the fastest, but many new variants are fast approaching it. The nearest in growth potential is XBC.1.6-a recombinant of Delta & Omicron, growing quickly in Australia & few other countries

H/T: @siamosolocani https://t.co/0GeY6qVxpS pic.twitter.com/bJzEgc63cZ

— Vipin M. Vashishtha (@vipintukur) April 12, 2023

The peculiar Arcturus symptom:

• Experts around the world are saying that there is a new common symptom that's showing up in the recent Covid-19 cases - itchy conjunctivitis.
• The new strain is also said to be infecting children under the age of 12. 
• Itchy red eyes, without pus, is being detected among younger Covid-19 patients. 
• The symptoms of pink eye include tearing, or watery eyes, redness, swelling, pain or irritation, itching, and discharge. 
• The symptom can be very well construed as a result of an allergy season, but it could also be Covid-19. 
• Though conjunctivitis was seen in some Covid-19 cases as a symptom earlier, it wasn't a commonly occurring symptom. 

XBB.1.16 #Arcturus

For the last 2 days, have started getting pediatric Covid cases once again after a gap of 6 mo! An infantile phenotype seems emerging—treated infants w/ high fever, cold & cough, & non-purulent, itchy conjunctivitis w/ sticky eyes, not seen in earlier waves pic.twitter.com/UTVgrCCLWU

— Vipin M. Vashishtha (@vipintukur) April 6, 2023

• However, after three years of the pandemic, conjunctivitis seems to be a commonly occurring symptom of Covid-19.
• Times of India reported that Covid-19 among children under 12 is increasing in the country. 
• Pink eye due to Covid-19 is often followed by fever and other symptoms. 
• So far, the strain seems to be more infectious but doesn't seem to cause severe disease requiring hospitalisation. 
• But experts have warned those with obesity, asthma, and other immunocompromised individuals to remain alert and not ignore any symptoms. 
• Some states in India like Kerala have made wearing masks in public places mandatory again. 
• The Union Health Ministry is also conducting mock drills to check the healthcare system's readiness in case of a severe Covid surge. 

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