A new variant of Covid-19, which consists of two strains of Omicron, is thought to be even more infectious than it is. At the moment, health experts are tracking down the species, dubbed XE, which was first discovered in the UK but is now being reported elsewhere.
According to the UK Health and Safety Agency, XE is a combination of BA.1 and BA.1. BA.1 is the original variant of Omicron, while BA.2 was first discovered in November and has now emerged as the dominant coronavirus strain in more than 60 countries.
Dr. Simon Clarke, an associate professor of Cell Microbiology at the University of Reading, told the Associated Press news agency on April 8 that it was too early to judge XE.
"There is a lot to learn about this recombinant virus," he said. A recombinant occurs when people become infected with two or more variants of the virus.
The World Health Organization is monitoring the XE, but has not yet considered it a worrying option or an option of interest. So far, XE has been reported in the UK and Japan.
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