An infection of the XE sub-variant of the Sars-CoV-2 Omicron variant has been reported in Mumbai. The detection appears to be disputed by the Union health ministry, which said a detailed analysis by Insacog experts suggested it was not XE.
One sample had the XE variant, another had the Kappa version, and 228 samples had the Omicron variant.
The XE is the result of a recombination of the BA.1 and BA.2, the first two Omicron variant lineages that spread widely.
Sars-Cov-2 appears to be more transmissible than BA.1, but there is no confirmed evidence for it yet. There are going to be newer variants as it is an RNA virus and highly replicating in nature. “It won’t be surprising if it (BA.2) finds its way into human populations,” Dr Ekta Gupta said.
