LOS ANGELES, May 12 (Xinhua) -- New Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 continues to spread rapidly in the United States, with its prevalence increasing to nearly 15 percent this week, according to data updated Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The subvariant, referred to as "arcturus," has become the second dominant strain in the country.
It is estimated to account for about 14.3 percent of new COVID-19 cases this week, up from 6.6 percent two weeks ago, according to CDC data.
Experts warned that the percentage is expected to increase in the coming weeks, with the subvariant possibly becoming the next dominant coronavirus strain in the country.
The highly transmissible Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 remains the dominant strain in the United States, accounting for about 64 percent of new COVID-19 cases this week, CDC data showed. ■