Here's the latest variant picture for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

XBB.1.9.* "Hyperion" (29%) and CH.1.1.* "Orthrus" (29%) are battling for dominance.

XBB.1.16.* "Arcturus" (18%) and "Deltacron" XBC.* (13%) are still quite significant.

The chaotic mix of very different variants poses a raised immediate re-infection risk for anyone relying on natural immunity from a recent infection.

The sample volumes seem representative up to June 1.

#COVID19 #Australia #ACT #Canberra #FK_1_1 #CH_1_1 #Orthrus #XBB_1_16 #Arcturus @auscovid19

Here's the latest variant picture for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

XBB.1.9.* "Hyperion" (23%) has rebounded back to dominance.

There's been a recent surge from the last non-recombinant clan: CH.1.1.* "Orthrus" (18%).

The XBB.1.5.* "Kraken" clan (18%) is still significant.

XBB.1.16.* "Arcturus" (17%) is also quite prominent.

"Deltacron" XBC.* (16%) has been growing recently.

Be alert for conjunctivitis symptoms, particularly associated with the Arcturus variant.

The chaotic mix of very different variants poses a raised immediate re-infection risk for anyone relying on natural immunity from a recent infection.

The sample volumes seem representative up to May 17.

#COVID19 #Australia #ACT #Canberra #FK_1_1 #CH_1_1 #Orthrus #XBB_1_16 #Arcturus @auscovid19

Here's the latest variant picture for New Zealand.

The XBB.1.5.* "Kraken" clan (31%) is battling the CH.1.1.* "Orthrus" clan (34%).

XBB.1.16.* "Arcturus" (12%) appeared in early March and is growing steadily.

The sample volumes seem representative up to April 14.

#COVID19 #NZ #XBB_1_5 #Kraken #FK_1_1 #XBB_1_16 #Arcturus
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Here's the latest variant picture for New Zealand.

The XBB.1.5.* "Kraken" clan (38%) is battling the CH.1.1.* "Orthrus" clan (28%).

XBB.1.16.* "Arcturus" (9%) appeared in early March and is growing steadly.

The sample volumes seem representative up to April 8.

#COVID19 #NZ #XBB_1_5 #Kraken #FK_1_1 #XBB_1_16 #Arcturus
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Here's the latest variant picture for a newly-classified variant: FK.1.1. It's presumed origin was in NZ (where the parent FK.1 variant is now dominant) during February.

FK.1.1 has reached 17% frequency in about 6 weeks in NZ. FK.1.1 is present in other countries, notably Australia, but at low frequencies so far.

FK.1.1 is a descendant of CH.1.1 "Orthrus", which drove the major wave in NZ over Dec 2022 - Feb 2023. CH.1.1 also drove severe waves in Hong Kong and the UK. It's a bit surprising to see one of it's descendants being successful in NZ - it suggests any protective immunity from prior infections in the community there is now being evaded.

As the FK.1.1 designation has not yet flowed through to Nextclade, I'm approximating it here by searching for samples with the characteristic mutations.
#COVID19 #NZ #Australia #FK_1_1
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