New, More Contagious Covid Strain XEC Spreads Across Europe
Scientists have raised alarms about a new, highly contagious Covid-19 strain, XEC, which is now spreading across Europe. First detected in Germany in June, the XEC variant has since been identified in 13 other countries, including the UK. It is expected to become the dominant strain as colder weather sets in, following a summer surge in other coronavirus subvariants such as FLiRT.
The UK Health Security Agency has not yet released specific data on the XEC variant, and the exact number of cases in the UK remains unclear. However, recent figures show a 4.3% week-on-week increase in Covid cases across the country.
Symptoms and Concerns
Symptoms of the XEC strain are similar to those of previous variants and include fever, sore throat, headaches, cough, loss of smell, loss of appetite, and body aches. Experts are concerned that XEC could soon surpass the currently dominant hyper-infectious subvariant KP.3.1.1.
Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, suggested that XEC may become the next major challenge in a post on X. He estimated that it could take several weeks or even months before XEC significantly impacts the Covid landscape. "It would be surprising if this doesn’t turn out to be the next challenge," Dr. Topol told the LA Times.
Global Spread
The XEC variant has been reported primarily in Germany, Denmark, the UK, and the Netherlands. Its presence in the US and Canada remains minimal, but scientists are closely monitoring its spread in Europe.
Vaccine Protection
As an Omicron variant, XEC is expected to be covered by existing vaccines. Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, reassured that the strain is not drastically different from previous ones. "We’re not like in a new Greek letter – they’re not that much different; it’s not like something completely new," she said.
Experts continue to recommend regular hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals as the best measures to prevent infection.
