Omicron XE variant: Here is what we know about this COVID hybrid strain
Global News
Canada has detected six cases of the XE recombinant variant of Omicron. It is estimated to be more transmissible than the BA.2 subvariant.
As the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of Omicron dominates the COVID-19 spread across Canada and globally, scientists are keeping a close eye on a new hybrid variant.
The XE sub-lineage of Omicron, which was first detected in the U.K. in January, is what experts call a “recombinant virus.”
A recombinant virus is a combination of genetic material from two or more different viruses — in this case, the original subvariant of Omicron (BA.1) and the more infectious BA.2.
As of April 6, Canada had detected six cases of the XE recombinant lineage, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) told Global News on Wednesday.
“As long you have everything open now — no mask on and nothing — the potential that you generate new mutants, variants or new recombinants is always open,” said Dr. Horacio Bach, an infectious diseases expert at the University of British Columbia.
The XE is being classified under the Omicron variant of concern and the World Health Organization (WHO) says it will fall under that lineage until any significant difference in transmission and severity is reported.
Here is what we know so far about the XE recombinant variant of Omicron.
All viruses mutate and have subvariants that have a different genetic makeup than the original variant but have a common origin.
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