The XEC Covid variant, a hybrid of omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, is spreading swiftly across Europe and has now been detected in 27 countries, including the UK, US, Denmark, and China. First identified in Germany in June, the XEC variant has shown a significant transmission advantage over other variants.
Experts suggest that XEC may become dominant this winter, but current vaccines should still offer protection against severe illness. Professor Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, said that while XEC might spread more during the autumn season, vaccines are likely to continue preventing severe cases of the disease.
Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, noted that XEC is starting to become more prevalent but is still months away from reaching its peak spread. The variant is currently most prevalent in countries like Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.
Symptoms and Prevention
The symptoms of the XEC variant are similar to those of previous Covid-19 variants, including fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell, loss of appetite, and body aches. Health authorities recommend that individuals continue to receive vaccines and booster shots to help protect against severe illness and hospitalization.
To reduce the spread of the virus, health experts, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), advise maintaining good hygiene practices and improving air quality. Researchers also stress the importance of closely monitoring the XEC variant to better understand its behavior and impact.
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