Unlike Omicron, XE coronavirus variant causes loss of smell & taste. Find out more symptoms of this mutant strain

Variety was once the spice of life, especially when it didn’t mean a new variation of the same virus ruining our chance at a social life, every few months. However, that’s what a pandemic-afflicted reality looks like. Ever since coronavirus showed up in 2019, there had been many variants of the virus. We have lived through Delta, and Omicron, heard scary tales about a few other types of Covid doing rounds in foreign lands, and just when we are planning to return to office, reports of a new variant making a Mumbai arrival has put a cloud of uncertainty over us yet again.

Though the first detection of XE Omicron case in Mumbai is yet to be confirmed, many are obviously curious to know about this new variant, its transmissibility and its symptoms. Therefore, here is a low-down on all the available details on XE recombinant.

What Is The XE Variant ?

For the uninitiated, XE is a mutant strain of the Omicron variant and as you may already know from watching superheroes films, mutants are seldom good news. Early analysis indicates that this strain may be 10 per cent more transmissible than other Omicron variants, however, so far it has not shown severe traits. Although it is too early to comment on how it is going to affect a certain population, scientists are currently studying it to understand its characteristics.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the first strain of this mutant variant was detected in the United Kingdom on January 19 and so far more than 600 cases of this strain have been reported. This latest strain is also called the XE recombinant since it is a mutant hybrid of the two previous versions of the Omicron variant – BA.1 and BA.2.

A Traveling Variant: Know The Symptoms
While we determine if the XE variant has arrived on the Indian shores, it may be prudent to say that this variant has already reached Thailand and New Zealand. While the Thai ministry has played down concerns about the virus, New Zealand is currently on wait-and-watch mode before taking any further steps to mitigate the virus.

One of the most telltale signs of this variant is that people afflicted with this virus experience loss of smell and taste, which was not generally seen in cases of Omicron. Other symptoms are same as that seen in any Covid patient – fever, sore throat, scratchy throat, cough and cold, skin irritation and discolouration, gastrointestinal distress, etc.

Some patients who are afflicted more severely may display heart troubles, palpitation, and nerve issues too. The initial signs include fatigue, dizziness, headaches followed by sore throat, muscle soreness and fever.

The best protection against this variant or for that matter any variant is to be vaccinated against coronavirus. If you are eligible for booster shots, do not delay taking it. This virus is still very new, and there are few studies to predict how it might affect an individual. So while there is a hope that it may be mild, as Omicron or more so, there is also need to take adequate precautions.