A more virulent, transmissible version of the COVID-19 virus referred to as XEC appears to have spread rapidly across Europe and is keeping health experts on their toes because it may take over the dominant form of the strain. The first case recorded in Germany was reported in June this year, whereby reports emerged citing the XEC variant existing within several countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, Denmark, amongst others as the BBC documented.
What is the XEC Variant?
The XEC variant is a mixture of two Omicron subvariants: KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. The latter are already circulating in Europe. This variant includes mutations which have a transmission advantage and so prove to be more contagious than the previous ones. According to The Independent, at least 500 samples of the XEC variant have been identified across 27 countries including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, and China. This new strain is spreading rapidly in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and also in the UK.
How It May Impact in the Coming Months
Researchers are closely monitoring the spread of XEC. According to the University College London’s Director of the Genetics Institute Professor Francois Balloux, XEC has “a small transmission advantage” over the other recent variants. However, he explained that the available vaccines already would protect well from severe illness.
Meanwhile, Eric Topol, who is Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, believes that the XEC variant is “just getting started,” and it will take “many weeks or a couple of months” before this variant peaks. “XEC is definitely taking charge. That does appear to be the next variant, but it’s months off from getting into high levels,” said Topol.
XEC Symptoms: Expect What
The symptoms of this XEC version are generally the same as other Omicron varieties. They tend to include symptoms, such as:
- Fever
- Throat pain
- Cough
- Loss of smell
- Loss of appetite
- Ache in various parts of the body
- Experts also warn that similar to the previous versions, symptoms differ from a person to another, and because of the spread, they need more time to figure out what effects this will bring.
- Protection through Vaccination
- Because XEC still falls within the Omicron variant, health professionals are continuing to push the importance of staying up to date on all vaccinations and booster shots to prevent severe illness and hospitalization. Although the variant is showing an increased transmissibility, preliminary research suggests that vaccinations in place today will continue to fend off serious disease.
Public Health Recommendations
As the spread of XEC becomes more prevalent, health authorities are, once again calling for practicing prevention measures. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, advises people:
- Practice hygiene.
- Improve ventilation in confined spaces
- Get up-to-date COVID-19 vaccines booster
The XEC strain is spreading rapidly in Europe and may eventually become the dominant one in the winter season. While the new strain is thought to have a transmission advantage, vaccine acceptance would still be a mainstay for preventing severe outcomes. Scientists would continue to watch its spread and characteristics while continuing to call for caution and adherence to public health norms.