UK has detected a new Covid variant. Here’s what we know so far about omicron XE
[ad_1]
According to the Office for National Statistics, 4.9 million people in Britain, or 1 in 13, were infected with Covid-19 as of March 26 — a record high since its survey began in April 2020.
Getty Images| Getty Images
LONDON — A new omicron sub-variant has been detected in the U.K. as the country faces a renewed surge in Covid-19 hospitalizations.
According to statistics from the, the XE variant has been identified in 637 cases nationwide. U.K. Health Security AgencyThe CDC stated that there was not enough evidence for the possibility of its transmission or severity.
XE includes a combination of the BA.1 previously infected omicron strain that emerged in 2021 and the “stealth” BA.2 version, the current dominant variant in U.K.
This is known as “recombinant”, a variant of the virus that occurs when a person becomes infected by multiple variants simultaneously. The result is a mixture of genetic material in one’s body.
XE’s transmission, but not yet conclusive
They aren’t uncommon and have occurred many times since the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Although data on this new variant is still not available, early estimates indicate that it may be more transmissible to vaccines than other strains.
UKHSA data indicate that XE has a growth rate of 9.8%This figure is higher than that of BA.2 and the World Health Organization currently puts it at 10%.
According to health officials, they will continue to monitor the situation.
“This specific recombinant, XE has demonstrated a variable rate of growth and we are unable to confirm whether it offers a real growth advantage. Professor Susan Hopkins, UKHSA chief medical advisor, stated that there has not been enough evidence to make any conclusions regarding vaccine efficacy, transmissibility or severity.
A specimen date of January 19th this year is the earliest known XE case. It could be circulating in Britain’s population for many months, which would suggest it was already confirmed. The XE has also been discovered in the United Kingdom. Thailand.
Inflation cases
The XE variant comes just as the U.K. experiences a major increase in infectious diseases. Despite this, less than 1% have been diagnosed with Covid in the UK through genomic sequencing.
The Office for National Statistics says 4.9 million people in Britain, or 1 in 13, were infected with Covid as of March 26 — a record high since its survey began in April 2020. In the meantime, hospitalizations have increased by more than 7 percent in the past week. over 16,500.
Due to waning immunity and loosening Covid restrictions, older adults are particularly vulnerable.
Imperial College. latest React study, an estimated 8.31% of the over-55 age group tested positive as of the end of March — nearly 20 times the average prevalence recorded since the survey started in May 2020. The number of cases among younger people and children appears to have slowed down.
This is the 19th round and last of the study. Covid surveillance systems and restrictions are not unwound elsewhere in the U.K.
The British government will be in London on Friday pushed ahead with plansTo stop two virus surveys, and to scale back a third. During the initial days of the pandemic Israel and Denmark were the two leading countries in vaccine research. They have drastically reduced testing.
Covid data may be reduced, making it harder to forecast surges or understand new variations.
It comes as China — itself in the midst of its latest surge which has seen Shanghai enter into an extended lockdown — also recorded a new subvariant labeled BA.1.1.
It does not match any other Covid type sequenced or reported in China. global variant databaseThis was the case of a mild Covid in Suzhou. It is a small city close to Shanghai.
[ad_2]