WHO: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that a new SARS-CoV-2 virus variety, the XE recombinant, has emerged in the United Kingdom, with a potentially greater rate of transmission.
The recombinant was discovered on January 19 in the United Kingdom, according to the WHO’s weekly epidemiological bulletin, and over 600 sequences have been reported and verified since then. “Early-day estimates imply a community growth rate advantage of roughly 10% relative to BA.2, but this conclusion requires further validation,” it continued.
The UKHSA, which monitors SARS-CoV-2 variations, examined three recombinants identified as XF, XE, and XD. XD and XF are recombinants of Delta and Omicron BA.1, respectively, while XE is a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2. When an individual is infected with two or more variants at the same time, the genetic material in the human body is mixed, resulting in a recombinant variant. Several such recombinants have already surfaced during pandemics.
Only 38 cases of XF have been identified in the United Kingdom, according to the UKHSA, with none since mid-February. In the United Kingdom, there is currently no evidence of community transmission. XD has yet to be recognized in the United Kingdom, despite the fact that 49 cases have been reported to international databases.
However, 637 cases of XE have been confirmed in the United Kingdom thus far. “The earliest has a specimen date of January 19, 2022. “At this time, there is insufficient evidence to draw judgments regarding the variant’s growth advantage or other attributes,” the agency stated. All of the recombinants, however, are being closely monitored, according to the statement.
WHO said XE belongs to the Omicron variety
In light of this, the WHO stated that “XE continues to belong to the Omicron variety unless major changes in transmission and illness features, particularly severity, may be revealed,” adding that “until more confirmation on the community growth rate emerges.” It has also pledged to keep a close eye on and assess the public health risk posed by recombinant variations.