Mumbai: The first case of coronavirus variant XE in India was reported today in Mumbai. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, one case of the Kappa variation has also been discovered (BMC). So yet, no severe symptoms have been reported in patients infected with the novel viral strains.
Yesterday, 376 samples were analysed, 230 of which were from Mumbai residents.
228 of the 230 Mumbai patients whose samples were sent for genome sequencing are Omicron positive, one Kappa positive, and one XE positive. Twenty-one of the 230 patients had to be admitted to the hospital, despite the fact that none of them required oxygen or intensive care. Twelve of those admitted to the hospital had not been vaccinated, while nine had received both doses.
The new variant XE is a mutant hybrid of two versions of Omicron – BA.1 and BA.2. It only accounts for a small fraction of cases across the globe at the moment.
The new mutation appeared to be around 10 per cent more transmissible than the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron, as per the World Health Organisation.
Until now, the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron was considered the most contagious strain of Covid-19. If this new research is confirmed, it would make XE the most transmissible Covid-19 mutant yet.
However, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday said that present evidence does not suggest the presence of XE variant of COVID, denying reports that claimed that a case of the new mutant was reported in Mumbai.
“Hours after report of detection of XE variant of Coronavirus in Mumbai, @MoHFW_INDIA has said present evidence does not suggest the presence of the new variant,” PIB Maharashtra said in a tweet.
It referred to the Health Ministry clarification on the reported case of COVID XE Variant in Mumbai.
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