XE variant more infectious than Omicron, health experts warn; state needs to bring back the mask mandate and COVID norms, they say
Masks are optional but it will be good if we wear them in public places for our own safety, the experts said. File pic
While the central and state governments have not admitted on any XE variant of Covid-19 in Mumbai, the tested samples of the patient in question have been sent to the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kolkata, on April 6. The health experts opined that the XE variant is 10 per cent more infectious than Omicron and people need to adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour.
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Suresh Kakani, Additional Commissioner (Health), BMC said, “The samples were tested at our BMC-run laboratory at Kasturba hospital, where the experts found the genomic sequencing to be matching with that of XE variant. However, as per the government directives, the samples have already been sent to NIBMG for further cross verification and either way, their findings would be considered as the final, whenever it is ready.”
When asked about the patient's wellbeing, Kakani said, “The patient recovered almost a month ago and samples were taken then. The patient is fine and is leading a normal life.”
Mask up
“XE is a recombinant variant of the Omicron strain that’s a mutation of the BA.1 and BA.2 subtypes. Recombinant mutations emerge when a patient is infected by multiple variants of a virus. Frequent changes in genomic structure are part of the natural life course of the viruses and everyone should exercise appropriate barriers with regular mask use,” said Dr Subhash Hira, Professor of Global Health at University of Washington-Seattle and member of WHO-Geneva Covid review panels.
Dr Hira added, “The World Health Organization has warned of the new subvariant XE, stating that it’s more transmissible than any other variant of Covid-19. The new mutant XE emerged for the first time in mid-January 2022 in a few European countries. Britain’s health agency said that 637 cases of the XE variant have been reported in Britain so far. The Shanghai wave exceeded 20,000 new cases and is driven by XD and XE recombinants.”
“Both (XE and Kappa) variants spread faster than Omicron and Delta variants. Since all Covid precaution protocols are not mandatory it will be interesting to see if these variants spread. Also, most of us are either vaccinated or were infected with Covid in the past. So, how our immunity will protect us from these variants will also be a key factor,” explained Dr Santosh Bansode, Head of the Department, Emergency Medicine, Wockhardt hospitals, Mumbai Central.
“If numbers increase again then we might face the next wave. Masks are optional but it will be good if we wear them in public places for our own safety,” said Dr Bansode.
Being scientifically correct
Dr Wiqar Shaikh, Professor of Medicine, Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, said that given the current global scenario, the multiple Omicron variants, XE in particular, could fuel the fourth wave in India.
He expressed anguish about the controversy between the BMC and central agencies with regard to the detection of the XE variant in Mumbai. Dr Shaikh emphasised that while being scientifically correct was paramount, the authorities being in denial mode could be detrimental to the health of our population.
He also said there is a need to bring back the mask mandate and make masks compulsory in the state, failing which stiff penalties should be levied. The number of Covid cases in India were 795 on April 4, 2022, increasing to 1,086 cases on April 5, 2022.
Do not panic
“The detection of the XE variant of coronavirus in the UK and other parts of the world should be taken as a warning. However, one must not panic. Though the newer variants that are emerging have very low pathogenicity yet one needs to be cautious. This is a usual phenomenon where the viral genome changes with time rendering the newer variants incapable of causing serious disease,” said Dr Ketan Vagholkar, Professor of Surgery at DY Patil Medical College.
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No. of XD and XE recombinants cases in Shanghai
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