A new, “stronger” variant of Covid is spreading across Europe and the world, and experts warn it is “just getting started”.
The XEC strain was first detected in Germany in June and has been identified in 15 countries on three continents.
According to experts, the strain could become the dominant variant in a few months, when the weather starts to get colder.
Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, said XEC is “just getting started now around the world and here.”
Talking to him Los Angeles TimesHe added: “And that will take many weeks, a couple of months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave.
The XEC strain was first detected in Germany in June and has been identified in 15 countries on three continents. (File photo)
The XEC strain could become dominant within weeks or months as the weather turns colder.
“XEC is definitely taking over. That seems to be the next variant.
“But it will take months to reach high levels.”
Kaiser Permanente Southern California regional infectious disease chief Dr. Elizabeth Hudson said health experts will continue to monitor the variant in the coming weeks.
Dr Hudson said XEC has been reported in Western Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands, and is spreading rapidly.
XEC has emerged in the United States, but so far its prevalence is low.
The strain, which is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants, causes symptoms similar to those experienced with common illnesses such as flu and colds.
Most people will get better within a few weeks, but others may take longer to recover and some may even require hospitalization.
Common symptoms include high temperature, persistent cough, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing, and feeling tired or exhausted.
The most common symptoms are high fever, persistent cough and loss of taste or smell. (File photo)
The XEC strain comes after health experts warned about the FLiRT variant sweeping the UK.
The arrival of XEC comes after warnings about the FLiRT variant spreading across the UK in spring and summer this year.
FLiRT was used to describe a family of variants, KP.2, KP.3, JN.1.7, JN.1.1, and KP.1.1, which were all descendants of the JN.1 variant.
The latest UK figures show there has been a 4.3 per cent rise in Covid cases week on week.
England also reported 102 Covid-related deaths as of August 30.
During the same period, hospitals recorded 1,465 Covid admissions.
But the UK Health Agency has not yet provided detailed data on the XEC variant.