A new ‘stronger’ Covid variant is spreading across Europe and the world, as experts warn it is ‘just getting started’.
The XEC strain was first detected in Germany in June and has been identified in 15 countries across three continents.
According to experts, the strain could become the dominant variant within months when the weather gets cold.
Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California Eric Topol said XEC is ‘just getting started now around the world and here’.
Speaking to the LA Times, he added: ‘And that’s going to take many weeks, a couple 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 across three continents. (Stock photo)
The XEC strain could become dominant within weeks or months when the weather gets colder
‘XEC is definitely taking charge. That does appear to be the next variant.
‘But it’s months off from getting into high levels.’
Regional chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California Dr Elizabeth Hudson said health experts will continue to monitor the variant in the coming weeks.
Dr Hudson said that XEC has been reported in western Europe including Germany and the Netherlands and it is spreading quickly.
XEC has shown up in the US but its prevalence is low so far.
The strain, which is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants, causes symptoms that are similar to those you experience with common illnesses such as flu and colds.
Most people will get better within a few weeks, but for others it could take longer to recover and some may even require hospitalisation.
Usual symptoms include a high temperature, continuous cough, loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath and feeling tired or exhausted.
Also, usual cold-like symptoms such as a headache, a sore throat, a blocked or runny nose are common as well as a loss of appetite, diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick
Usual symptoms include a high temperature, continuous cough, loss of sense of taste or smell. (Stock photo)
The XEC strain comes after health experts were warning about the FLiRT variant sweeping the UK
The arrival of XEC comes after warnings of the FLiRT variant sweeping 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 UK’s latest figures show there has been a 4.3 per cent uptick in Covid cases week-on-week.
England also reported 102 deaths linked to Covid up until August 30.
During the same period, hospitals noted 1,465 Covid admissions.
But the UK Health Agency has not yet provided detailed data about the XEC variant.