Recent Italian SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing information has shown that the Omicron BA1/BA2 recombinants XJ and XL are making strong headway on the island of Sardinia.
In the most recent flash survey, the XL recombinant is at 20.9% of sequences from Sardinia, and the XJ recombinant is at 11.6% of sequences, a total of 32.5% of all sequences for the island.
In Calabria, often referred to as the toe of Italy, the XL recombinant has been found in 6.1% of sequences.
Although the numbers of SARS-CoV-2 samples being sequenced for these areas is quite low, these new discoveries suggest that more attention may need to be focused on southern Italy and particularly the island of Sardinia.
XJ is a recombinant lineage of Omicron BA.1/BA.2, originally found in Finland. Link
XL is a recombinant lineage of Omicron BA.1/BA.2, originally found in the UK. Link
Source: Italian Health Department document – Estimation of the prevalence of Variant Of Concern (VOC) variants and other variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy:
