Lately, India lifted all Covid-19-related restrictions, and government officials in Maharashtra have mentioned the arrival of a new recombinant XE variant. Despite the fact that the national count of Covid-19 cases is decreasing, evolving variants of SARS- CoV-2 may disrupt the pandemic’s flattened graph in India. As the XE variant makes its way into India, Covid-19 is making headlines all over again. What does the new variant entail, how dangerous is it, and should you be concerned? Here’s everything you need to know:
What is the XE variant?
When different variants infect the same person simultaneously time, the variants are able to interact mixing up their genetic material and forming novel combinations. The XE variant is a recombinant strain, which means it’s a mutant hybrid of the two prior versions of the Omicron variant, BA.1 and BA.2, that spread over the world when it first became a problem.
XE Variant Symptoms
COVID-19 symptoms could range in severity from person to person, relying on their vaccination status and prior infection resistance. Symptoms change frequently for some people, and for others, it can be quite severe.
Fever, irritated throat, cough and cold, skin issues, gastrointestinal discomfort, breathing difficulties, and other symptoms should be overlooked. Heart issues, palpitations, and nerve damage are all symptoms of serious illness.
Is it dangerous?
According to a BMC representative, the XE variation of Omicron tends to be 10% more extremely contagious than the BA.2 sub-variant. BA.2 has been declared the most infectious of all COVID-19 variations till now.
As per WHO, BA.2, a subvariant of the Omicron strain, is the most prevalent strain of the virus, accounting for 86 per cent of all sequenced cases. Preliminary research shows that the XE version has a growth rate of 9.8% higher than BA.2, commonly known as the stealth variant owing to its capacity to avoid detection.
Management of Covid-19 XE Variant
The World Health Organization said in a statement that its expert team indicated that vaccination for COVID-19 could lessen the probability of severe disease and death caused by the spread of the omicron variant subtype- XE.
- It is also beneficial to keep the mask on and adhere to social distancing norms.
- Avoid attending overcrowded places.
- If you are at high risk of contracting a serious disease or illness, you may benefit from a booster dose. As a result, a COVID booster dose is advised following vaccination.
- Covid testing is important in stopping the spread of the new variant. You should get yourself tested if any of the symptoms are observed.
Advancells Diagnostics is the leading manufacturer of VTM kits for Covid-19 testing in India. If you are looking for VTM kits for covid testing, get in touch with us at info@advancellsdiagnostics.com for more information.