What is the XE COVID variant? Where have you been detected so far? – NBC Chicago

A variant of the new hybrid COVID, known as XE, which is popular in the UK, has made many headlines with concerns about its infectivity, but Chicago’s top doctors haven’t yet worryed about it. said.

“In most cases, hundreds of cases have been detected in the United Kingdom, but none have shown significant concern or spread at this time,” said Dr. Allison Arwadi, director of public health at Chicago, in a statement. Stated. “Therefore, at this time, it is not labeled as an officially interesting variant.”

Arwady said the recombinant variant has already been detected in the United States, but no cases have been reported in Chicago or Illinois as of Monday.

“Whenever you see a new variant emerge, it’s important to get it … it may have some advantages, maybe a little more contagious, but no, no. This isn’t the moment I’m particularly concerned, “she said. “It remains a kind of Omicron version.”

The XE variant is a recombinant. That is, some of the two different variants are reorganized into the new virus. In this case, BA.1 is the original Omicron strain and BA.2 is known as “Stealth Omicron”.

According to the UK Health and Safety Agency, it was first detected in the UK in mid-January and more than 600 cases have been reported since then.

According to the Chicago Public Health Service, a small number of XE cases have been reported outside the United Kingdom, including the United States.

According to health officials, the recombinant mutant itself is not abnormal.

“Recombinant variants are not uncommon, with some particularly circulating variants, some of which have been identified during the pandemic process so far,” Hopkins said. “Most of them, like other varieties, disappear relatively quickly.”

In the UK, health authorities are monitoring the other two recombinants. XD and XF are composed of Delta and BA.1 strains of genetic material and XE variants.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, XE is not currently monitored by US epidemiologists and is not labeled as a “mutant of interest” or a “mutant of concern.”

WHO said it would continue to study recombinants and provide up-to-date information as further evidence becomes available.

Preliminary research suggests that XE may be the fastest-growing strain to date, but research is underway to determine the exact infestation of the mutant.

According to the UK Health and Safety Agency, the initial growth rate of this variant was not much different from BA.2. However, in a March 25 update, health officials revealed recent data showing that XE’s growth rate is 9.8% higher than BA.2.

The World Health Organization has released similar information, citing estimates that XE is 10% more contagious than BA.2. However, authorities say the results of these findings need further confirmation.

The more contagious Omicron subvariant BA.2 has become the predominant COVID-19 strain in the United States, but international health experts are increasingly focusing on new hybrid variants that may be even more infectious. I’m guessing.

According to health officials, BA.2 spreads about 75% faster than BA.1 and was previously identified as the most infectious subspecies.

Hannah Barbian, a genomic epidemiologist at the Institute for Regional Innovative Public Health at Rush University Medical Center, said:

According to experts, the COVID vaccine is effective against all surfaced variants in terms of hospitalization and death prevention. However, more research is needed to determine how the vaccine may affect XE mutants.

So far, during the pandemic, new stocks and surges first hit Europe and China. That’s why scientists are watching carefully what’s happening there.

“I think this may be an exception, as the United States hasn’t seen evidence of a new surge yet. I’m not sure, but we always want to know the viral dynamics of our region,” said Hannah of Genomics.・ Barbian said. Epidemiologist at the Institute for Regional Innovative Public Health at Rush University Medical Center.

The upcoming White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, talks about the new Omicron subvariant BA.2 and whether we will see the surge that the United States is experiencing in Europe and Asia.