COVID -19 XE Variant and how dangerous it is? All you need to know
WHO warns about XE variant of COVID-19; know all about this hybrid strain dubbed as ‘most transmissible’
Covid-19 XE has not entered India, according to the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday. WHO has warned nations to be cautious as it is more contagious than previous variants.
Gujarat has detected a highly transmissible XE Covid variant case, a day after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation reported the first case in Mumbai, sources have said. However, neither the government of India nor Maharashtra’s health department confirmed the cases in Mumbai.
News Desk New Delhi:
A new COVID-19 variant has emerged since the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned nations about a decline in COVID-19 cases recently. Apparently, the hybrid strain is a mix of two variants of Omicron — BA.1 and BA.2. WHO has also stated that the XE variant is likely to become the most transmissible variant in the world since the Coronavirus outbreak in 2019. The XE variant, according to a WHO report, only accounts for a minimal number of cases at present, but it has a 10% growth rate advantage over the BA. Covid-19 sub-variant, which was until now the most contagious of all strains. It was first discovered in the United Kingdom, and since then nearly 600 sequences have been identified and confirmed, according to the WHO report.
The WHO says it will continue to monitor and assess the public health risks associated with XE and will share updates as evidence becomes available. Another recombinant strain, XD, a hybrid of Delta and Omicron, is under monitoring by the WHO. It has been reported mostly in France, Denmark and Belgium.
All you need to know about COVID-19
COVID XE symptoms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Heart ailment
- Palpitation
- In some cases, loss of smell and taste
What has the WHO said so far?
A new COVID-19 variant has been blasted by the WHO as a hybrid strain between Omicron strains BA.1 and BA.2. According to the WHO, the XE variant is 10% more transmission-prone than the BA.2 variant.
WHO reports less than 600 sequences of the XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2) have been reported and confirmed so far. The XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2) was detected first in the UK on 19 January, according to the organization.
It added, “Early estimates show BA.2 has a growth rate advantage of 10% over community,” but that this finding needs to be confirmed.
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Which country has XE COVID variants?
XE has so far been discovered in over 600 samples. It was first found in the UK in January 2022.
India’s official position on the new variant
Earlier this week, the Union Health Ministry denied media reports that Covid had been reported in Mumbai, saying the present evidence does not support this.
The PIB Maharashtra said on Twitter that after a report of the detection of a new Coronavirus variant in Mumbai, @MoHFW_INDIA said that they had no evidence to suggest the presence of the new variant.
INSACOG genomic experts analyzed the sample in detail and concluded the genome of that variant does not match that of the ‘XE’ variant, according to the Health Ministry. The ministry also noted that the 50-year-old woman reported positive for XE Variant was fully vaccinated and asymptomatic when she arrived at the hospital. She tested negative when she arrived for the virus.
Is this a mutation that is more contagious than the other mutations of Covid-19?
The first studies of the new variant, xe, indicate that it shows a 10 per cent advantage in terms of community growth rate compared to the ba.2 variant, which is the most transmissible strain of covid-19.
The company also stated that more research is required to understand more about this new variant.
It is estimated that early estimates show that the community growth rate is superior to Ba. 2 by 10 percent, but it is necessary to confirm that this is true, said the global health body. So long as the xe mutant does not show significant differences in the characteristics of the who, including severity and transmission, it will continue to be classified with the omicron variant.
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What does it mean by ‘recombinant mutations’?
The results of a study by the UK Health Security Agency have revealed that there are currently three new strains of recombinant virus circulating: xd, xe, and xf. When multiple strains of a virus infect a person at the same time, it is possible for recombinant variants to form.
When mutations happen, they mix up the different genetic material in order to form a new combination.
A hybrid of delta and ba.1 linesage of Omicron. According to Tom Peacock, a professor at Imperial College London, xd has spread to more than one country. This includes the more severe Delta and it is a strain to look out for. The XE form is a hybrid of BA.1 x BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron. It has been found in Britain and there are signs that it has been transmitted from one person to another. That hybrid is Xf. It is from the Delta X Ba.1 lineage of Omicron.
What is the difference between the new variant and Omicron?
A subvariant of Omicron, XE, has been discovered. Originally, Omicron had two common variants, BA1 and BA2. Both mutated into this new variant. Essentially this variant is Omicron alone, but it is a recombinant mutant version of Omicron.
Different symptoms than Omicron
Clinically, variants of a disease cannot be distinguished from one another. Omicron’s symptoms seem to be shared by the new sub-variant XE. However, they are generally not as severe as Omicron’s symptoms. We must keep in mind that the XE variant has been present for about three months and has not spread all over the world as Omicron did. In other words, it is not an entirely distinct form, but rather a form similar to Omicron.
What precautions should be taken?
Essentially the same precautions apply. The precautionary measures have been known for the past two years. Although our state government has lifted the mask restrictions, I believe it is still important for us to wear masks, avoid crowded places, and simply maintain our health. Additionally, we should be sure we are completely vaccinated, and if anyone is eligible for a booster dose, they should receive it.
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FaQ
BA.1 (original strain) and BA.2 (more infectious strain) are the two most well-known strains of Omicron.
