Wave X
From wild type to Alpha (B.1.1.7), Delta (B.1.617.2), Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.5, BA.2.75, BQ.1, XBB, JN.1 and now XEC and LP.8.1, the virus keeps evolving, continuously demonstrating its ability to adapt and mutate. As we enter the tenth wave of COVID-19 in the U.S, the XEC variant has emerged as the dominant strain - in line with expectations. It could be " a weak leading variant " but will it be a " very muted holiday wave relative to all prior years , due to weak evolution and large summer numbers"? Until recently in the US KP.3.1.1 was dominating wastewater samples and accounting for a considerable proportion of infections. Looking at the growth advantages of variants over the last year led to predictions of significantly lower impact than JN.1 that "XEC should only modestly bump what the winter wave would be without any new variant" by one of COVID forecasters . But other variants are also gaining traction. The offspring of now fading KP.3.1.1, MC...