A new Covid variant, identified as XEC, is rapidly making its presence felt across Europe, raising concerns among scientists and health experts. This variant, described as more contagious, has begun spreading with notable speed and might soon surpass other strains in prevalence.According to Independent, Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, highlighted the potential impact of this new variant in a recent post on X. At this juncture, the XEC variant appears to be the most likely one to get legs next, he stated, underscoring its growing significance in the Covid landscape.At this juncture, the XEC variant appears to be the most likely one to get legs next. Its current status nicely tracked by @Mike_Honey_ s threadhttps://t.co/4AnLa3MXfz— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 15, 2024XECs rapid spreadFirst detected in Berlin, Germany, in June, the XEC variant is now advancing quickly across Europe, North America, and Asia. Covid data analyst Mike Honey notes that the variants spread has been quite rapid in these regions. In August, Slovenia experienced high infection rates, with over 10 percent of Covid case samples in the country testing positive for XEC.Understanding the XEC variantThe XEC variant is a hybrid of previously identified omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. KS.1.1 is part of the FLiRT category, featuring mutations that alter phenylalanine (F) to leucine (L) and arginine (R) to threonine (T) on the viruss spike protein. This spike protein mutation affects how the virus attaches to human cells.In contrast, KP.3.3 falls under the FLuQE category, where the amino acid glutamine (Q) is replaced with glutamic acid (E) on the spike protein, enhancing its ability to bind to human cells more effectively.Global impact and growthTo date, XEC has been detected in over 500 samples across 27 countries, including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, and China. Analysts have observed significant growth of the variant in Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands, indicating its rapid proliferation.Symptoms and precautionsThe symptoms associated with the XEC variant are similar to those of earlier Covid strains, including fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell, diminished appetite, and body aches. Despite these similarities, health experts advise maintaining up-to-date vaccinations and booster shots to mitigate severe illness and reduce the risk of hospitalization.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends practicing good hygiene and ensuring clean air environments to combat the spread of Covid, including the XEC variant.
