Arcturus COVID variant shows new symptom and increased infectivity.

The new highly contagious COVID variant, XBB.1.16 or Arcturus, is causing a surge in infections in India and is associated with a new symptom in children, "itchy" conjunctivitis or pinkeye without pus. Pediatric COVID cases are on the rise in India, with an "infantile phenotype" emerging. The variant is currently being monitored by the CDC and the World Health Organization, but is not widely spreading in the U.S. Scientists do not expect it to be more lethal than other variants and it will likely cause a milder illness resembling the flu.