BANGKOK (NNT) - The Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC) has said a parcel delivery man is suspected of being infected with a new COVID-19 variant not previously seen in Thailand.

 

According to DMSC Director-General Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, the 34-year-old man may have been infected with the XJ coronavirus variant, a combination of the BA.1 and BA.2 variants that was first detected in Finland.

 

The director-general said a genome test on February 22 at a Bangkok hospital discovered a coronavirus strain very similar to the XJ recombinant, but noted that more information is needed to confirm the discovery of the specific variant.

 

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The man had previously been immunized with two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine before contracting COVID-19. He also exhibited no symptoms and has since recovered from the illness. Authorities warned, however, that those who had been in close proximity to the individual should closely monitor their condition.

 

Thailand has already reported its first case of the Omicron XE strain, which was discovered by Ramathibodi Hospital’s Center for Medical Genomics.

 

According to Dr Supakit, there is no evidence that the two new recombinants are more virulent than the existing variants that are already prevalent throughout the country.

 

The BA.2 Omicron variant is currently the dominant strain in Thailand, spreading faster than previous variants, including the BA.1 type.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-05

 

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Maybe if they did some real actual testing throughout the whole country they might have found it . But they seem to want to do limited testing to keep the numbers down so they could open up for tourists so money is the utmost important thing for this Government it seems IMO .

Let's add the word "possible" to all the news stories. Wow. 

Every Thai person I've talked to that has returned to Pattaya from their home villages and towns have all told me the same thing. Those areas are full of actively ill Covid patients. Vaccinations are not readily available and people are not getting their second or booster vaccinations in a timely manner. Those people that have returned here after getting vaccinated are working again. But more needs to be done in the rural parts of Thailand before more people die. Vaccinate and mask mask mask.

XE, XJ., XX, XY...I think it's time we should start calling these mutants, X-Men.

Bit late with XJ, covid. Jaguar already did it.

From 1970 it was Jaguar's flagship four door model.Wikipedia

A new Covid varient? I bet the junta can't believe their luck. You and I both know they are going to milk it for all that it is worth. The state of emergency / Thailand Pass system won't be going anywhere...

A COVID misinformation post and reply have been removed.