Allrecord rapid antigen: a new strain that combines the original strain of Omicron and the "stealth strain" appears

Allrecord rapid antigen: a new strain that combines the original strain of Omicron and the "stealth strain" appears

What are XE mutants?

XE is a mutant resulting from recombination of BA.1 (original Omicron strain) and BA.2 (Omicron "stealth" strain), and is referred to as a "recombinant" or hybrid strain.

And a "variant" is a version of a virus that contains a set of mutations, or changes in its genetic material. As for "recombinant" strains, such as XE strains, they are the result of mixing two viruses that branched from the original virus, ie a recombination of two different strains of the same virus.

The UK Health Security Agency said it was studying XE, adding that as of March 22, 637 cases of XE had been detected in England.

Reproduce faster than 'stealth' strains

Early reproduction rates (incidence and prevalence) of the XE strain were not significantly different from the "stealth" strain. But the UK Health Security Agency said the latest figures, as of March 16, 2022, showed it was now growing 9.8% higher than the "stealth" strain of Omicron.

Authorities have warned that this estimate will not remain the same as new data are added, and that changes in the increased reproduction rates of hybrid strains cannot be explained at this time.

Hybrid mutants are not uncommon and usually die "relatively quickly", said Professor Susan Hopkins, senior medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency.

Hopkins told The Sun, "Recombinant XE shows variable growth rates and we can't confirm whether it has a real growth advantage (in terms of increasing cases compared to Omicron)." So far, there is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about infectivity, severity or vaccine efficacy."

What is "post-coronavirus syndrome"?

In some patients, some symptoms of COVID-19 persist for more than 4 weeks, so-called "Long COVID", or for more than 12 weeks, known as "Post COVID". Both conditions have a common name, Post Covid Syndrome.

Symptoms of "Post-Coronavirus Syndrome"

In a statement to DPA, Prof. Carmen Sjöbenbogen explained that the symptoms of the "post-coronavirus syndrome" are:

Persistent tiredness and exhaustion

Decreased performance

Difficulty concentrating and thinking

Headache

Muscle pain

Limb pain

Fear, anxiety and nervousness

Depression

Sleep disorder

Dizziness

Nausea

Hair loss

The head of the "fatigue syndrome" center at Charité Hospital in Berlin, the capital of Germany, added that the "post-coronavirus syndrome" often affects adults, people with diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma, as well as those who are obese.

Unknown cause of 'post-coronavirus syndrome'

The German professor added that the cause of the syndrome was not known, but doctors believed it was due to a weak or overreacting immune system to the virus, persistent inflammation in certain parts of the body, and low oxygen levels in the blood. The virus then slows or worsens the recovery process for certain chronic diseases.

Consult a doctor

The German professor stressed the need to consult a doctor, especially if the syndrome is accompanied by severe symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, tingling, numbness and paralysis.

In addition to medication, "post-coronavirus syndrome" can also be confronted by following a healthy nutrition-based lifestyle, namely eating 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits a day, and a weekly meat intake of between 300 and 600 grams.

It's also important to quit smoking and reduce caffeine intake, in addition to slowing down your life so you don't feel tired and exhausted too quickly.