As the respiratory virus season begins in the United States and health officials introduce updated COVID-19 vaccines, a new variant called HV.1 is rapidly spreading throughout the country. HV.1, a subvariant of the omicron strain, has become the dominant variant, surpassing EG.5 (Eris) in terms of cases. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HV.1 accounted for 25.2% of new COVID-19 cases as of late October.
Health officials are closely monitoring HV.1 amid concerns of a potential winter surge in COVID-19 cases. It is expected that cases will increase again this winter, as has been the pattern in previous years.
HV.1 is part of the omicron family and is considered a grandchild of omicron. While it has mutations, it remains closely related to other omicron subvariants. Scientists are generally not concerned about variants like HV.1 that resemble previously seen strains. However, there are other highly mutated strains, such as BA.2.86 (Pirola) and JN.1, which have raised alarm due to additional mutations.
HV.1 is highly transmissible and has spread quickly throughout the U.S. It may also have a slight advantage in evading prior immunity to COVID-19. However, it does not appear to cause more severe disease or lead to increased hospitalizations.
The symptoms caused by HV.1 infection are similar to those caused by recent variants. Common symptoms include sore throat, congestion or stuffiness, runny nose, cough, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, fever, and chills. COVID-19 symptoms often start with a sore throat and progress to congestion or a runny nose. Coughing, while not a primary symptom, can persist as a chronic bronchitis-like condition.
All COVID-19 tests, including PCR tests and rapid antigen tests, can detect HV.1. Testing is crucial to differentiate COVID-19 from other respiratory viruses. It is recommended that anyone with symptoms, especially those in high-risk groups, get tested for COVID-19.
The updated COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. The vaccines have been reformulated to target omicron XBB.1.5, which was the dominant variant until HV.1 emerged. The updated vaccines appear to be effective against HV.1 and significantly reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
However, the uptake of the updated vaccines has been slow, with only 4.5% of the population receiving the booster shots by late October. It is not too late to get vaccinated and people should take advantage of the new booster as soon as possible. Insurance plans should cover the updated vaccines, and free or low-cost tests are still available to all Americans.
