XEC Covid spreading fast across Europe, US, China: Here's everything you need to know about highly contagious variant

The recently identified XEC Covid-19 variant, a combination of earlier omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, is spreading rapidly across Europe and other regions. Since its first detection in Germany in June, the variant has appeared in 27 countries, including the UK, US, Denmark, and China.

Experts have noted a rapid spread of XEC, which now shows a "slight transmission advantage" over other variants. Professor Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, said that while XEC might spread more this autumn, current vaccines are expected to prevent severe cases.

The XEC variant's presence is particularly strong in Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.


According to Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, "XEC is definitely taking charge. That does appear to be the next variant. But it's months off from getting into high levels."

Symptoms of the XEC variant are similar to previous Covid-19 variants, including fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell, loss of appetite, and body aches. Vaccines and booster shots are recommended to offer protection against severe illness and hospitalization.

Health authorities, such as the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), advise maintaining good hygiene and ensuring cleaner air to reduce the virus's spread. Researchers emphasize the need for close monitoring of XEC to understand its symptoms and behavior better.