A new “stronger” Covid variant, with cases reported around the world, is spreading “quite rapidly” across Europe, as one doctor warns it could soon become the dominant strain of the virus.
The XEC strain was first detected in Germany in June, but cases have since been reported in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, the United States and other countries, with 1,115 cases worldwide.
MailOnline’s map highlights all documented cases of the new XEC strain across Europe.
It is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants and causes symptoms similar to those experienced with common illnesses such as the flu and colds.
Most people will improve within a few weeks, but for others it may take longer to recover and some may even require hospitalization as it is said to “kill you.”
MailOnline map highlights all documented cases of the new XEC strain across Europe
The XEC strain was first detected in Germany in June and has since been reported in 29 countries (file image)
Experts warn that the XEC variant could become the dominant strain during the winter months
Common symptoms include a high temperature, continuous cough, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing, body aches, and extreme fatigue.
Additionally, cold-like symptoms such as headache, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, as well as loss of appetite, diarrhea, malaise, and vomiting are common.
But researchers have called for closer monitoring of the XEC variant to better understand its symptoms.
Dr Helen Wall, GP and clinical director of population health, pointed to a rise in respiratory infections coinciding with a rise in cases of the new XEC strain.
she said Manchester Evening News: ‘There is another Covid variant on the scene that is expected to become the most dominant and is becoming more prevalent like all the previous variants.
“We don’t fully know if that makes it more or less transmissible, I suspect more so because they always are.” But we don’t know what the situation is.”
Director of the Institute of Genetics at University College London, Professor Francois Balloux, told the BBC that the XEC variant is more contagious but vaccines should still offer good protection as it comes from the Omicron family.
He also believes it may become the dominant strain during the winter months.
Common symptoms include a high temperature, continuous cough and loss of taste or smell (file image)
Last month, the director of the Scripps Translational Research Institute in California, Eric Topol, said that XEC is “just getting started around the world and here.”
Speaking to the LA Times, he added: “And that will take many weeks, a couple of months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave.”
‘XEC definitely takes charge. That seems to be the next variant.
“But we are still months away from reaching high levels.”
The strain has already been detected in at least 29 countries and 24 US states and is now spreading “fairly rapidly” across Europe, North America and Asia, according to Covid data analyst Mike Honey.
The Czech Republic has the highest prevalence of the variant, with XEC detected in 16 percent of the country’s Covid samples.