'XE Variant 10% More Infectious Than Omicron': Maharashtra Health Minister Says Awaiting Centre's Confirmation

After BMC said that it detected the first case of the XE variant of SARS-CoV2, Centre dismissed the report as official sources said that "present evidence doesn't suggest that it's 'XE' variant."

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope (ANI Photo)

New Delhi: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said that the health department has not arrived at any confirmation on the 'XE' variant as it awaiting a report by the National Institute of Biologicals.

Urging the people to not panic, he mentioned the 'XE' variant is "10% more infectious than the Omicron variant which is like flu."

"The health department has not arrived on any confirmation on the 'XE' variant as there's no NIB (National Institute of Biologicals) report yet. There's no need to panic," Rajesh Tope said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

"As per info, the 'XE' variant is 10% more infectious than the Omicron variant which is like flu. We will talk more about it in detail after getting a report, haven't received a confirmatory report from the Centre or NIB, so Maharashtra's health dept doesn't confirm it," he added.

The statement comes after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday said that it detected the first case of the XE variant of SARS-CoV2.

According to a statement, the patient was identified as a 50-year-old female South African national. She had come to India on February 10. After she was tested on February 27, she was found COVID-19 positive.

Her lab sample has been referred to Kasturba Hospital Central laboratory for genome sequencing.

"It has been found to be a new XE variant in initial sequencing. Though GISAID also confirmed it, INSACOG has decided to go for another round of genomic sequencing at the national laboratory for confirmation of the XE variant," the health department said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

The patient was reported to be asymptomatic and was found to be RT-PCR negative on repeat testing.

Centre then dismissed the report as official sources said, "Present evidence doesn't suggest that it's 'XE' variant. FastQ files of the sample, being said to be 'XE' variant was analysed by INSACOG genomic experts who inferred that genomic constitution of this variant doesn't correlate with genomic picture of 'XE' variant," ANI reported.

XE variant is a combination of BA.1 and BA.2 strains of Omicron and is found to be responsible for enhanced viral transmission, Maharashtra Health Department stated citing the primary reports.

"Frequent changes in genomic structure are part of the natural life course of the viruses and there is no need to be scared but everyone should opt for appropriate precaution," it advised.

(With Agency Inputs)