New Coronavirus Subvariant Detected in Australia

A new COVID-19 subvariant was detected in the Australian Victorian wastewater amid a new virus emergence in the state.

The new variant named “BA.4” or “BA.5” is a subvariant of the latest globally emerged Omicron strain.

Samples from the new mutation were found in Melbourne; in addition, the country recorded new 35 deaths linked to Coronavirus.

Recently, the mutations of the Omicron subvariant were named the XE strain in the United Kingdom.

Experts identified more symptoms of the newly discovered Coronavirus variant, XE, early this month.

The symptoms of the new variant are believed to be more like cold, sneezing, and runny nose, alongside the original symptoms of the virus, such as the loss of smell and taste and breathing difficulties.

The new Coronavirus variant was identified in the United Kingdom (UK) and experts gave it the name XE.

The newly recognized variant is a combination of the original BA.1, Omicron, and its subvariant BA.2. Experts say that this kind of engagement between a variant and its subvariant is called “recombinant.”

Furthermore, they added that this variant didn’t pose any threat until now, according to the Chief Innovation Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital and an ABC News contributor, Dr. John Brownstein.

Brownstein said: “Right now, there’s really no public health concern,” adding: “Recombinant variants happen over and over. In fact, the reason that this is the XE variant recombinant is that we’ve had XA, XB, XC, XD already, and none of those have turned out to be any real concern.”