Geneva, A new COVID mutant `XE` has found in the UK, the World Health Organisation has said in its latest report and note that it may be more transmissible than the BA.2 sublineage of COVID-19.
XE is recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 sublineages of COVID-19. “
The XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2), was first detect in the United Kingdom on 19th January 2022 and >600 sequences have report and confirm since, the WHO said.
WHO Said :
“Early-day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of ~10 per cent as compared to BA.2, XE belongs to the Omicron variant until significant differences in transmission and disease characteristics, including severity, may be reported,”.
The United Kingdom has report 637 cases of XE and experts said it has shown a variable growth rate.
As per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), its new analysis has examin three recombinants known as XF, XE, and XD.
WHO Update Said :
“Of these, XD and XF are recombinants of Delta and Omicron BA.1, while XE is a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2,”.
A recombinant variant occurs when an individual becomes infect with two or more variants at the same time, resulting in a mixing of their genetic material within the patient`s body.
UKHSA said this is not an unusual occurrence and many recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants have identified over the course of the pandemic.
UKHSA Said :
“As with any other coronavirus (COVID-19) variant, the vast majority do not confer any advantage to the virus and die out relatively quickly,”.
In the UK, 38 cases of XF have identified, though none have seen since mid-February.
There is currently no evidence of community transmission within the UK.
UKHSA said XD has not identified in the UK to date, though 49 cases have report to global databases, the majority of these are in France.
UKHSA Said :
“A total 637 cases of XE – a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 – have been confirmed in the UK so far. The earliest of these has a specimen date of January 19, 2022. There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about growth advantage or other properties of this variant,”.
UKHSA said it continues to monitor all recombinants closely.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor, UKHSA Said :
“Recombinant variants are not an unusual occurrence, particularly when there are several variants in circulation, and several have been identified over the course of the pandemic to date. As with other kinds of variant, most will die off relatively quickly,”.
“This particular recombinant, XE, has shown a variable growth rate and we cannot yet confirm whether it has a true growth advantage. So far there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about transmissibility, severity or vaccine effectiveness,”.
UKHSA Said :
“BA.2 continues to demonstrate a substantial growth advantage. Since the middle of February, this growth rate has settled at approximately 75 per cent higher than other circulating Omicron lineages in England,”
UKHSA said BA.2 is estimate to account for approximately 93.7% of cases in England, with the highest prevalence in the South East (96.4%) and the lowest in the East Midlands (91.1%).
