New Covid subvariant Omricron 'Kraken' set to take off in UK, sparking NHS fears

Virus experts have said they "expect" the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant to emerge in the UK. The subvariant already accounts for around 4% of cases in the UK, but has raised concerns in the US, where the figures are at 40%.

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Covid: XBB.1.5 'most transmissible' according to WHO

Virus experts have warned they expect a new sub-variant of Covid to take off in the UK.

Named 'XBB.1.5', the subvariant is an offshoot of the Omicron variant.

Prof Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, said the UK was not prepared for a new wave, although some experts believe the variant will spread in the UK.

The NHS is currently in crisis due to staff shortages, as well as a huge number of cases of flu and winter illnesses.

Young also told BBC Radio 4 that "we need to keep an eye on what is happening in terms of the spread of this particular variant".

The sub-variant has also been dubbed the "Kraken".

Professor Tim Spector, founder of the Covid Zoe app, said XBB.1.5 "could be the new variant to watch out for".

XBB.1.5 "could be the new variant to watch out for," Spector said (

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Getty Images/iStockphoto) What are the symptoms?

There is currently little to suggest that the symptoms caused by the subvariant are any different from those of other Omicron offshoots.

Symptoms of Omicron are familiar to Britons and include a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat.

The NHS says: "The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu."

Will it spread?

XBB1.5 is likely to cause another wave in the UK, experts have warned, and there have been five Omicron waves in 2022.

Currently, XBB.1.5 is responsible for around 4% of all cases in the UK, but concerns about its potential are coming from the US, where it accounts for over 40% of cases.