New Omicron variant detected in the UK
Just when countries across the globe have started lifting COVID-19 related restrictions due to a drop in the positive cases, WHO (World Health Organisation) has issued a warning against a new mutant variant of Omicron. The international public health body has raised concern over the XE mutant variant of the contagious Omicron virus. The new sub-variant of Omicron is said to be more transmissible than any strain of COVID seen before. Here is all you need to know about this new variant:
The new variant of Omicron
The Omicron variant of coronavirus emerged in South Africa in November 2021. Within two months it became the dominating variant, leading to a spike in the cases across the globe in mid-January. It was two to four times more transmissible than Delta and was responsible for the third wave of coronavirus in India. After this, a BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron emerged, which was found to be even more contagious than the parent variant. Now new research has confirmed that the XE is the most transmissible COVID-19 mutant yet.
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What is XE and where has it been found?
The new variant, XE, is a mutant hybrid of two previous versions of Omicron - BA.1 and BA.2. According to the research, this variant is 10 times more transmissible than BA.2 subvariant or Stealth Omicron, which was termed as the variant of concern due to its high transmissibility rate. It is at present the most dominant strain of the virus, responsible for 86 per cent of all the recent cases of COVID-19. The new XE hybrid variant of Omicron was first detected in the UK on January 19, 2022. Since then about 600 sequences have been reported and confirmed.
What does this mean?
Being a variant of high transmissibility means that the new subvariant could become the dominant variant in the future. There is a high risk of another COVID-19 wave caused by this variant. The WHO has clarified that until significant differences in characteristics, including severity and transmission of the XE variant, are not known, it will be categorised as part of the Omicron variant and will be considered as a variant of concern.
Possible symptoms of the new variant
Though the exact symptoms of the new variant are not yet known, it is believed to be similar to Omicron and BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron. The variant of coronavirus does not lead to severe symptoms but spreads rapidly. Even though coronavirus is a respiratory infection, the initial symptoms of the Omicron variant are not related to the lungs. Fatigue and dizziness are initial signs, followed by others like headaches, sore throat, muscle soreness and fever. Loss of smell and taste are rarely reported in people infected with the Omicron variant. Apart from these, gastrointestinal signs like diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach ache and others are quite common in the case of Omicron infection.
Other mutant variant detected recently
Besides the XE variant of the Omicron virus, a study by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also identified two new recombinant strains that are currently circulating - XD and XF. A recombinant strain referred to as a mutant variant is made up of two previously-distinct variants.
XD is the hybrid of Delta and BA.1 lineage of Omicron. It has mostly been detected in France, Denmark and Belgium.
XF is a combination of UK Delta and BA.1 lineage of Omicron. It has been detected in Britain.