Health authorities have revealed that the new COVID variant called “Hellhound” or BQ.1 and BQ.11 is already in Mexico and it is the new Omicron variant that has been observed since September.

The first recorded cases occurred primarily in Europe and the United States; however, they have reached Mexico. You may be wondering, what is the difference between this and all the other variants and why does it have such a grim name?

First, this new subvariant is characterized for avoiding the antibodies that fight against the virus, though it is still not confirmed that it is more dangerous than previous variants. What is a fact is that infections have increased and more than 50% of them are due to BQ.1.

It is expected that, in December, 80% of cases will be related to this variant. Currently, Mexico has 16 infections and according to Olivia López Arellano, head of the Secretariat of Health of Mexico City, it is not believed that more serious cases occur as there are currently very few people hospitalized.

And why is it called Hellhound? It was called like that in Germany for the first time due to it being a fast contagion and for its great infection rate capacity. The hellhound in Greek mythology is a three-headed dog that guards the gates of hell for the god of the underworld, Hades.

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