Is the XEC COVID variant spreading beyond Europe?

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Europe under attack from new COVID strain -

A new COVID variant is on the rise in Europe. Known as the XEC COVID-19 strain, it's been reported in at least 11 countries across the continent.

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XEC emerged in Germany -

The strongest growth of this new strain has been in Germany, where it first emerged in June 2024, and Denmark.

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Infection confirmed across Europe -

In Europe, the XEC variant has also been confirmed in Slovenia, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, according to Scripps Research's Outbreaks page.

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Global spread -

Elsewhere, XEC has been identified in Taiwan, Israel, Canada, and the United States.

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State of XEC in USA -

In the United States, the new strain has so far been detected in 12 states, including California.

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How is XEC spread? -

XEC is spread in exactly the same manner as COVID-19, from an infected person's mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing, or breathe.

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Fears of a dominant strain -

Scientists fear that, with this global spread, XEC will soon be the dominant strain of the illness.

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Hybrid form -

The XEC variant is a hybrid of the earlier omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, currently dominant in Europe.

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Set to spread over winter period -

However, XEC's mutations could help it spread more easily this fall and throughout winter.

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Infecting populations -

The new strain is present in numerous patients across the European Union, North America, and Asia, according to COVID data analysts.

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XEC "is just getting started" -

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, warned that XEC "is just getting started now around the world and here."

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Expert prediction -

Though Dr. Topol also predicted that the spread of XEC would take many weeks, perhaps several months, to take hold.

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"XEC is definitely taking charge" -

"XEC is definitely taking charge. That does appear to be the next variant," he added. "But it's months off from getting into high levels."

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Situation not critical—yet -

Dr. Topol's analysis is confirmed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In a statement, the ECDC said that XEC does not yet meet the criteria to become a variant of concern or interest to public health authorities.

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Symptoms of XEC -

The XEC strain presents symptoms similar to those of other COVID variants. A cough or sore throat is usually the first indicator that a person has contracted the virus.

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High temperature -

A high temperature can also be indicative of the onset of XEC.

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Aches and pains -

Headaches, aching limbs, and muscle pain are often symptomatic of a person having contracted XEC.

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Tiredness -

Other signs of XEC may include fatigue and shortness of breath.

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Loss of taste and smell -

And in line with previous cases of COVID-19, some of those stricken with XEC may lose their sense of taste combined with a loss of smell.

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XEC closely monitored -

As with any new strain of coronavirus, omicron for example, the XEC variant is being closely monitored to better understand its symptoms.

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More contagious -

One fact that has been determined is that XEC is more contagious than previous strains, according to research undertaken at the Genetics Institute at University College London.

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Determining the cause -

Scientists are using a method called sequencing to learn more about XEC.

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Sequencing data -

Sequencing is employed in molecular biology to study genomes and the proteins they encode. However, caution is advised when disseminating sequencing data, warns Scripps Research.

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Sequencing caveats -

Viral samples that undergo genomic sequencing are not a direct representation of the cases circulating in the community. Furthermore, not all labs are pursuing sequencing at the same rate.

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False positives -

The strains that show up in sequencing data "may not represent the true prevalence of the mutations in the population," Scripps Research adds.

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Learning more about XEC -

While sequencing doesn't yet provide a magic formula, it can offer early clues on how XEC is evolving.

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Countermeasures -

This gives researchers and medical agencies more time to evaluate whether any specific countermeasures, like altered vaccines or public health recommendations, are needed.

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Get tested! -

Meanwhile, the advice being given by public health authorities across affected regions is to get tested as soon as possible.

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Get vaccinated! -

Members of the public are also being urged to get vaccinated and maintain booster shots. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments to strengthen vaccine campaigns after it announced that COVID is still "very much with us," with 20% of tests positive in Europe.

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Best form of protection -

Vaccinations still provide the best protection against serious illness from COVID-19 and are updated to better match recent variants. 

Sources: (BBC) (The Independent) (Scripps Research) (Euronews) (Los Angeles Times) (ECDC) (WHO)

See also: COVID-19 is here to stay—variant XEC emerges globally

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