What is Covid XE Variant? Is could be more dangerous or not?

The discovery of the first case of an XE mutant strain in India today has fueled fourth-wave fears.

The news of the new mutant strain XE being detected in the UK came just as India was reopening after the third wave. At the same time, pandemic experts and scientists predict another wave of Covid-19 in the near future, with the world expected to be hit in a month or so. Covid-19 cases are increasing in a number of countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Italy, and China. In India, the situation has been under control since the third wave passed, but the discovery of the country's first case of XE in Mumbai today has fueled fourth wave fears.

Read also: In Mumbai, the first case of a new Omicron XE variant has been discovered.

Just after the Omicron and Delta variants, which were responsible for the last two waves of the pandemic, experts have warned that we should be on the lookout for another coronavirus variant known as the XE strain. According to new data released on Tuesday from the United Kingdom, the XE subvariant may be up to 10% more transmissible than the Omicron variant.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently issued a warning about the second Covid mutant strain XE, a hybrid strain of two Omicron subvariants. According to preliminary research, the XE strain has a 10% growth rate advantage over the BA.2 variant.

Researchers recently discovered three hybrid strains of the virus, dubbed XD, XE, and XF. While the XD and XF variants are a mix of Delta and BA.1, the XE variant is a cross between two Omicron subvariants.

Read also: The second case of Covid XE Variant found in Gujarat

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) studied the three new Covid-19 strains and discovered that the XD strain is a hybrid of the French Delta and BA.1 lineage, the XF variant is a hybrid of the UK Delta and BA.1 lineage, and the XE variant is a mix of the large UK BA.1 and BA.2 lineages.

The WHO issued an alert about the XE strain, stating, "The XE recombinant was first detected in the United Kingdom on 19 January, and >600 sequences have been reported and confirmed since." "Early estimates indicate a 10% advantage in community growth rate over BA.2, but this finding requires further confirmation."