BREAKING: New Omicron variant XBB.1.5 discovered in Botswana
Hosia Mviringi
A new and more lethal variant of the highly virulent Omicron Covid-19 virus has been detected in Botswana.
Speaking in a statement issued on Friday, an official with Botswana’s Ministry of Health confirmed that the virus sub-variant XBB.1.5 had been discovered in the country, heightening fears that a new wave of virus infections might have already entered the region undetected.
“Only one case of the Omicron sublineage XBB.1.5 has so far been detected in Botswana,” said Malepa Dibonwa, acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Health.
Dibonwa confirmed that even though the XBB.1.5 Omicron variant is still new in the SADC region, it is a mutation of the Omicron variant which has already been dominant in other parts of the world that include Europe, Asia, and the United States.
In April 2022 the Southern African country detected another novel variant of the Omicron virus named BA.4 and the sister sub lineage BA.5.
In November 2021, researchers in Botswana and then South Africa were the first to announce the detection of new sub-lineages of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2, prompting panic driven decision worldwide that included total suspension of international flights into and out of the Southern African region. This flight ban undoubtedly dealt a huge blow to the already struggling economies in general and particularly the tourism and hospitality sub-sector.
The Botswana government is urging the public to continue observing Covid-19 preventive guidelines that include vaccination, social distancing, wearing of masks, and avoiding crowded indoor places.
“People are encouraged to get vaccinated, and if vaccinated already to get boosted, while those eligible for a second booster to do so, particularly the vulnerable,” said the statement.
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