For the first time in Bulgaria, a recombinant variant between sub-variants of Omicron BA.5.1 and BA.2, which is designated as "XAN", was announced by the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCCPD).

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Omicron - the new coronavirus variant 967

94 clinical samples with SARS-CoV-2 were successfully analyzed at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention by next-generation whole-genome sequencing.

The samples were taken from patients with COVID-19 in the period 24.08-14.09.2022 and were sent from 13 different medical facilities from 13 regions of the country.

Recombinant viruses occur when a person is infected at the same time by two different viruses that have similar genetic material.

Because the two subvariants replicate rapidly in the cells of their human hosts, they can exchange part of their genetic makeup and form a new "hybrid" subvariant composed of the two parental viruses.

XAN is still rare in the world.

In Bulgaria, it was found in a 76-year-old woman, who was successfully cured.

In all 94 clinical samples, the Omicron virus variant was detected.

The ratio of Omicron sub-variants is as follows: BA.2.75 (1.1%), BA.2.12.1 (1.1%), BA.5.x (77.7%), BE.x/BF.x which is a sub-variant of BA .5 (19.1%) and XAN (1.1%).

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Omicron - the new coronavirus variant