Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 accounts for nearly half of U.S. COVID cases- CDC

(Reuters) - The fast-spreading Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 accounted for nearly half of the COVID-19 cases in the United States, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed on Friday.

It is estimated to have accounted for 49.1% of COVID cases in the United States in the week ended Jan. 21, higher than 37.2% it estimated last week.

(Reporting by Khushi Mandowara in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)