Japan detected the first case of new XE variant infection

VEHICLE variant to be recombinant variant between sub-variant BA.1 and BA.2 of the Omicron series. Thailand was the first country in Southeast Asia to report the XE variant, with the suspected case identified on April 2. Followed by cases recorded in India on April 6 and April 9.

According to preliminary research results compiled by the World Health Organization, the new variant XE was first detected in the UK in mid-January and more than 600 samples analyzed for genetic sequencing were confirmed as XE variant. .

Estimates from the early days show that XE is thought to have a community infection rate about 10% higher than the “stealth variant” BA.2. However, this needs more time and research to confirm. The basic characteristics of XE and the effectiveness of the drug, COVID-19 vaccine are thought to be similar to the BA.2 subvariant.

According to Japan Times, the patient is a woman, about 30 years old, in the US, with no symptoms of COVID-19. This person was vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer vaccine and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus when entering Japan.

Currently, Japan is recording about 50,000 new cases of COVID-19 every day. (Photo: AP)

When the National Institute of Infectious Diseases of Japan genetically sequenced the positive specimen, they discovered that the woman was infected with the XE strain. The patient was taken to the hospital for treatment and left the hospital after the isolation period was over.

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases also said it had detected two other samples taken from recent flights that were a mixture of Omicron’s genetic material, but they were unable to pinpoint it. what. Statistics in the UK show that about 1,100 XE infections were recorded on April 5. However, this variant accounts for less than 1% of infections across the UK.