According to foreign media reports, the British Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently confirmed that the number of infections caused by the new variant of the new variant of the new coronavirus Omicron (Omicron) is increasing. To date, 637 cases of XE infection have been confirmed within the UK and scientists are closely monitoring the possible transmission potential of the variant.
More than 600 cases of XE variant infection have been detected in the UK
According to the briefing released by the British Health Safety Agency on the 25th, the new variant XE is a combination of the Aomique Rongzi strains BA.1 and BA.2, which was first discovered in the UK on January 19 this year. Scientists currently don't have enough evidence to show how this recombinant variant evolved and how specifically it spreads.
The briefing shows signs of community transmission of XE infection within the UK. Currently, XE infection accounts for less than 1% of the total number of cases. Although the growth rate of early infection of XE is not significantly different from the recently spreading BA.2 variant, from the latest data as of March 16, XE is growing at a rate of 9.8% faster than BA.2. In this regard, the British media reported that scientists said that the spread rate of XE may be 10% faster than BA.2, but scientists are still studying this new variant.
"This particular recombinant variant of XE has shown a variable growth rate, but we are not yet sure whether it has real growth potential, and there is not enough evidence to prove its infectivity, severity, and impact on vaccine effectiveness." Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser to the UK Health Safety Agency, said. "Recombinant variants are not uncommon, especially when multiple viral variants are transmitted simultaneously. To date, several binding variants have emerged, but most will die out relatively quickly. ”
In addition to the XE variant, the UK Health Safety Authority is also keeping a close eye on the XF and XD variants. Both the XF and XD variants are recombinants of the Delta strain and BA.1 (where XD is the French Delta and BA.1 recombinants, and XF is the British Delta and BA.1 recombinants).
▲Genome illustration: How the three variants of XD, XE, and XF recombine strains. Image source UK Health Security Agency
Currently, a total of 49 cases of XD have been reported in the global database, most of which have also been detected in France, Denmark and Belgium. The UK has detected 38 cases of XF and no new cases of the variant have been reported since 15 February, and there is no evidence of community transmission of the XF variant within the UK. The UK's Health Security Agency said it would continue to closely monitor these variant recombinants through genome sequencing.
According to reports, the recent sharp rise in the new crown infection rate in the UK is mainly caused by the rapid spread of the Omiljung variant BA.2. Since mid-February, the growth rate of BA.2 infections in the UK has been around 75% higher than that of other Omikejong variants. Estimates released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say cases of BA.2 variant infections in the U.S. have been steadily rising in the past month. As of last week, BA.2 had become the mainstream COVID-19 strain in the United States, accounting for 55% of the country's new cases.
Red Star News reporter Ding Wen
Edited by Guo Yu
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