A new variant of COVID-19, known as XEC, has spread to 27 countries worldwide. Scientists have raised concerns about this highly infectious strain, warning that it is spreading rapidly across Europe and could soon become the dominant variant.
First identified in Germany in June, the XEC variant has since been detected in the UK, the US, Denmark, and several other nations, according to a report by NDTV, citing the BBC. Experts describe XEC as a sublineage of the Omicron variant, with new mutations that could enhance its spread, particularly in the fall. Despite the variant's quick transmission, vaccines are expected to prevent severe cases of COVID-19.
XEC is a hybrid of two earlier Omicron subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, which are currently dominant in Europe. So far, XEC has been found in over 500 samples from 27 countries, including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, and China. The variant is experiencing significant growth in Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.
Professor Francois Balloux, director of the Institute of Genetics at University College London, told the BBC that while XEC has a "slight transmission advantage" over other recent COVID variants, vaccines may offer better protection against it. He also noted that XEC could become the dominant subvariant during the winter months.
Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, added that "XEC is just starting to spread," but it could take several weeks to months for it to reach global levels. The symptoms of the XEC variant are similar to previous COVID strains, including fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell, appetite loss, and body aches. However, it still belongs to the Omicron subfamily.
Experts emphasize that serious illness can be mitigated with proper vaccination and booster shots. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also advises maintaining good hygiene practices. Researchers are calling for increased monitoring of XEC to better understand its progression and symptoms.
