When we think things are getting normal, reports of the Covid-19XE variant started coming. In the last two days, at least three schools in Ghaziabad and Noida have closed schools and changed online classes after testing positive for coronavirus in students and teachers.Also read – Amarnath Yatra Yatra Update: Holy Shrine will open its doors for devotees from this date
According to a report in Mint, In the national capital, Delhi, there were 299 daily coward cases and the positivity rate rose to 2.49 per cent on Wednesday. In the last two days, 501 new cases have been reported in the city, with the number of active cases increasing to 814. Also read – The country is set to ease sanctions as cases fall
The World Health Organization (WHO) last week issued a warning against new mutants that could be more contagious than any of the Covid-19 strains. Also read – 15 out of 44 test positive for coronavirus in Noida, active case crosses 100-mark | Key points
What is the XE variant?
The ‘XE’ is a mutant hybrid of two earlier versions of the Omicron variant, BA.1 and BA.2, spread worldwide. It was first discovered in the UK on 19 January and since then several hundred sequences have been reported and confirmed.
According to the WHO, the XE has a 10 percent advantage over the community growth rate compared to the BA.2 subvariant, which is already the most contagious.
While XE is only responsible for a small fraction of cases, its extremely high transmissibility could mean that it will become the most influential strain in the near future.
“The XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2) was first found in the UK on 19 January and since then less than 600 sequences have been reported and confirmed,” a recent WHO report said.
“Early-day estimates indicate a benefit of 10 percent community growth compared to BA.2, however, this finding needs further confirmation,” he adds.
Features of Covid-19 XE variant
According to the UK Health Security Agency, XE comes with symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing and sore throat, as opposed to the underlying strain of the virus which usually leads to fever, cough and loss of taste or smell.
And the NHS has added shortness of breath, fatigue or tiredness, body aches, headaches, sore throats, blocked or runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sickness or being sick.
As of March 22, 637 cases of XE had been detected in England, the agency said.
The XE variant has also been found in Thailand and New Zealand. The WHO says more data is needed before much can be said about change.
According to Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s chief medical adviser, more data is needed to confirm whether XE has a “true growth benefit” as it has shown a “variable growth rate” compared to the time it has been monitored so far, Forbes reports. .
There is also not enough evidence to draw conclusions about the viability, severity or effectiveness of the vaccine, Hopkins added.
(Inputs via IANS)
