Omicron XBB.1.5 Does Not Carry Mutations Known to Increase Severity of Virus: WHO

A sign of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 24, 2020. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

The Omicron XBB.1.5 variant of COVID-19 does not have any mutations known to increase the severity of the virus in individuals, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In a risk assessment (pdf) published on Jan. 11, the health agency said that the XBB.1.5 variant “does not carry any mutation known to be associated with potential change in severity.”