It was discovered that a man arriving at Haneda Airport from the United States last month was infected with a mutant virus called "XE," which is a combination of two types of Omicron strains of the new corona.


This is the second person to be confirmed infected with "XE" in Japan.

"XE" is a mutant virus that combines the Omicron strain "BA.1" that spread in the "6th wave" and "BA.2", which is said to be more infectious. , It is estimated that the speed of spread of infection is 12.6% faster than "BA.2".



According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, a man in his 50s who arrived at Haneda Airport from the United States on the 16th of last month and was positive for the new coronavirus test at the quarantine station was infected with "XE" as a result of analyzing the gene of the sample. Is confirmed.



The man initially complained of sore throat and headache, but the symptoms were mild and he left the facility after completing medical treatment at the quarantine accommodation on the 23rd of last month.



In Japan, it has been confirmed that a woman who arrived at Narita Airport from the United States in late March was also infected with "XE".



The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is analyzing the situation overseas and continuing to monitor domestically whether the infectivity of "XE" and the risk of aggravation are higher than those of conventional Omicron strains.