[World Now] First confirmation of XE mutation in Japan…When is it imported into Korea?

Corona 19 ‘XE mutation’

The XE mutation first identified in the UK on January 19th was a mixed mutation combining the prototype BA.1 of the Omicron mutation and the currently dominant species BA.2, the so-called ‘Stealth Omicron’. known to be high.

‘XE mutation’ stronger than Omicron confirmed in Japan

The ‘XE’ mutation was also confirmed for the first time in Japan.

Japan’s Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Shigeyuki Goto announced at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting today (12th), “We will collect information on the infectivity and severity of XE mutants and continue to monitor them.”

According to NHK and Kyodo News, the first confirmed case of XE infection was a woman in her 30s who arrived at Narita Airport on the 26th of last month after staying in the United States. As a result, it was confirmed that he was infected with XE. The woman had up to two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and she was asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis.

The woman has already been discharged from the treatment facility and there have been no confirmed cases of community transmission.

Expert: “It may have already flowed into Korea

The government believes that the spread of new mutations will be faster, but there will be no difference enough to change the quarantine strategy.

Son Young-rae, head of the social strategy division of the Central Accident Resolving Headquarters, said, “As we are moving from the Omicron mutation (BA.1) to BA.2 and XE, BA.2 has faster propagation power than BA.1, but there was no difference in response or strategy in particular. He said, “XE is highly likely to do the same.”

However, experts advise that a cautious approach should be taken in relation to mitigation of quarantine because there is a high possibility of the introduction of new mutations.

Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, “The government has already foretold the lifting of social distancing, and there is a possibility that XE mutations may appear following the stealth Omicron. I did. He also pointed out that airport quarantine has been greatly reduced and the number of overseas travelers is increasing. Considering the situation where there are still more than 210,000 confirmed cases per day, XE mutation has already flowed into Korea, but he pointed out that there is a high possibility that it was missed at the airport quarantine stage.

Choi Won-seok, a professor of infectious disease at Korea University Ansan Hospital, said, “Like other mutations, there is a possibility that it will be introduced into Korea.” However, if the XE mutation is introduced in a situation that has not yet escaped the Omicron epidemic as it is now, the duration of the Corona 19 epidemic may be a little longer than originally predicted.”

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report that more than 600 cases of XE mutation infection were confirmed. Starting with the UK, it is being confirmed one after another in foreign countries such as India, Taiwan, and Brazil. If the number of confirmed cases increases due to the COVID-19 mutation, the name of the mutation may be named pi (π) according to the Greek alphabet.