XBB.1.16: What It Is, How It’s Spreading in London, and What You Need to Know

When you hear XBB.1.16, a subvariant of the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in early 2025 and became dominant in London due to its ability to evade prior immunity. It’s not a new virus—it’s an updated version of the one we’ve been living with for years. Also known as Kraken, it’s the latest in a long line of COVID variants that keep changing, but don’t necessarily make people sicker. The real question isn’t whether it’s here—it’s whether you need to panic. The answer? Probably not. But you do need to be smart.

What makes XBB.1.16 different isn’t how deadly it is—it’s how sneaky it is. It spreads faster than earlier versions because your immune system, whether from past infection or vaccination, doesn’t recognize it as easily. That’s why cases spiked in London this fall. Hospitals didn’t overflow. ERs didn’t crash. But more people got sick, especially older adults and those with weakened immune systems. The NHS, the UK’s public healthcare system that’s been under pressure since 2020 kept up, thanks to better preparedness, targeted boosters, and fewer lockdowns. Meanwhile, the COVID vaccine, an updated version designed to match circulating strains like XBB.1.16 is still your best defense. You don’t need a fourth shot if you’re young and healthy—but if you’re over 65, have diabetes, or live with lung disease, getting boosted makes a real difference.

Symptoms? They’re mostly the same as last year: runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, cough. No fever. No loss of taste. No dramatic drops in oxygen. That’s not because the virus is weak—it’s because your body knows how to fight it now. The real danger isn’t the variant itself. It’s ignoring it. People still die from COVID in London—not because of XBB.1.16, but because they waited too long to get help. If you’re high-risk and feel off for more than two days, get tested. Don’t assume it’s just a cold. And if you’re in a crowded tube station, hospital, or care home? A mask still helps. Not because it’s mandatory. But because it’s simple.

What you won’t find in the headlines? The quiet wins. London didn’t shut down. Schools stayed open. Shops didn’t close. That’s because we learned. We stopped treating every case like a crisis and started treating it like the flu—something to manage, not fear. The public health system, the network of clinics, testing centers, and data trackers that monitor outbreaks in real time is still working. It’s just quieter now. And that’s a good thing.

Below, you’ll find real stories from Londoners who’ve had XBB.1.16, updates on local case rates, and clear advice on who should get the new vaccine and when. No hype. No fear. Just facts you can use.