Coronavirus Variant XE Discovered and Spreading in the U.K.

In the United Kingdom, a novel coronavirus variant has been discovered that may be the most transmissible yet.

The XE variant is a cross between the omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.2. According to the World Health Organization, it was first discovered in the United Kingdom on January 19, but it has since been reported in India as well. Approximately 600 cases had been identified as of late March.

There is evidence of mass spread of the variant in England, according to the UK Health Security Agency. However, it is responsible for less than 1% of sequenced infections at the moment.

According to preliminary estimations, XE is 10% more contagious than BA.2 – also known as “stealth omicron” – making it the most contagious type yet. However, according to a recent WHO report, “this finding requires further confirmation.” Its severity has yet to be determined.

The news comes as BA.2 has surpassed BA.1 as the most common variant worldwide and in the United States. While new coronavirus infections have begun to rise in several places in the United States, researchers do not expect BA.2 to cause another spike.

XE is being tracked by WHO under the omicron umbrella, therefore it does not yet have its own Greek letter name. “XE belongs to the omicron variant unless major variations in transmission and illness features, including severity, can be reported,” the organization added.

XE is an example of a “recombinant” occurrence, in which two viral strains combine their genetic material in the same cell, which then replicates. WHO is also monitoring a recombinant known as “deltacron,” which has been discovered in European countries but has not yet disturbed specialists.

“Recombination is widespread among coronaviruses and is viewed as an expected mutational event,” according to the WHO.