A newly identified COVID-19 variant, known as XEC, is rapidly spreading worldwide, according to recent reports. This hybrid strain, combining characteristics of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants, was first detected in Germany in June and has now been reported in 15 countries across three continents.

Experts, including Eric Topol from the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, predict that XEC will soon become the dominant variant globally. Topol highlighted to the Mirror that "XEC is just getting started now around the world."

Symptoms of COVID-19 XEC

The symptoms of the XEC variant closely resemble those of other COVID-19 variants and common respiratory illnesses. According to the National Health Service (NHS), key symptoms include:

High temperature or chills

Persistent cough

Altered or loss of sense of smell or taste

Shortness of breath

Fatigue

Body aches

Headache

Sore throat

Nasal congestion or runny nose

Loss of appetite

Diarrhea

Nausea or vomiting

Precautions to Take

To protect yourself and others from the XEC variant, consider the following precautions:

Get vaccinated and stay up-to-date with booster doses.

Wear face masks, particularly in crowded settings.

Avoid large gatherings when possible.

Maintain physical distancing.

Practice good hygiene, including regular handwashing.

Isolate yourself if you develop symptoms to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

In the US, new Omicron variant subtypes known as FLiRT subvariants have been observed since April. The CDC reports that these subvariants now account for approximately 80% of infections nationwide. For the week ending August 24, the CDC indicated that 17% of all COVID tests, excluding at-home tests, returned positive results.