Health officials have warned that the Omicron XE strain is more transmissible than previous variants, which is still being detected in the UK. Omicron XE, which is a sub-variant and "recombiant" variant, was first detected in the UK in January and there has been 1,179 cases so far.
The World Health Organisation explained: "Early-day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of 10 per cent as compared to BA.2, however this finding requires further confirmation. XE belongs to the Omicron variant until significant differences in transmission and disease characteristics, including severity, may be reported."
Omicron have been milder than other strains of coronavirus, with hospitalisations much lower. The XE strain is the combination of Omicron strains BA.1, which dominated over the Christmas period and the BA.2 which is currently the most dominant.
READ MORE: 1,300 cases of new Covid variant found in UK
Vaccines work efficiently against Omicron but health experts have urged everyone to take up the booster. The UKHSA said earlier this month that the XE variant is estimated to spread around 12.6 per faster than the current BA.2 strain and is predicted to become the dominant variant in the near future by health chiefs.
"The early signs are that it is going to be very transmissible so it will probably become the dominant strain again,” said Dr Alan Stout, chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee in Northern Ireland, according to the Independent.
“Again the early signs from elsewhere are that it’s not causing any more serious illness and that the vaccine is protecting people. So even though it will most likely become dominant it hopefully won’t cause any significant problems.”
However, what are the symptoms of the new variant? Like other Omicron strains, the most common symptoms are similar to a cold - sore throat, fatigue, runny nose and sneezing.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
