New Zealand Detects 1s XE Variant Case

New Zealand reported its first infection of the newly-emerged Omicron subvariant, XE, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday.

The ministry’s statement revealed that the infected person was abroad and arrived in the state on April 19.

Next, he tested positive for COVID-19 on April 20, and the analysis of his sample’s genome-sequencing confirmed that he was infected by the XE variant.

"XE has been spreading overseas, and its arrival in New Zealand is not unexpected," said the statement.

Last month, experts identified more symptoms of the newly discovered Coronavirus variant XE.

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.”