New XEC Covid Variant Spreads Rapidly Across 27 Countries

Identified in Germany in June, the XEC variant shows signs of becoming the dominant strain this winter.

XEC, a hybrid of Omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, has been detected in the UK, US, Denmark, and several other countries.
Experts warn that the variant's new mutations may help it spread more effectively, though vaccines are expected to prevent severe illness.
Symptoms of XEC are similar to previous Covid variants, including fever, sore throat, cough, and fatigue.
Health officials recommend updated Covid-19 vaccinations to protect against the emerging variant and other circulating strains.
Monitoring and data collection on XEC are ongoing, with scientists emphasizing the need for good hygiene and air quality measures.