The Omicron XE features a slightly faster transmission rate

According to Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Mohd Isham Jaafar during the daily news conference on April 6, the recently discovered Omicron sub-variant named 'XE' is a combination of the BA.1 and BA.2 sub-variants, with a slightly higher rate of transmission than the BA.2 sub-variant.

The Omicron XE sub-variant is now circulating in the United Kingdom (UK) and has recently been discovered in Thailand.

Dr. Mohd Isham reassured the public that the sub-variant has not been identified in the Sultanate, and that the Ministry of Health (MoH) is continuing to monitor the situation through genomic sequencing surveillance.

"The Ministry of Health is regularly monitoring the situation, and our neighbouring nations have yet to disclose any detection of the new sub-variant," the minister stated, advising the public, particularly those travelling abroad, to ensure they have had a booster vaccination.

"We know that the pandemic abroad is still going on, and if it continues, this variety is predicted to be identified," Mohd Isham stated, emphasising that vaccination is one of the ways to protect yourself.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the XE sub-variant, but it has yet to be classified as a variant of interest or concern, according to the minister, and it is being monitored.

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