The coronavirus hasn’t stopped producing new strains; the latest strain has found a way to evade your immune system.
The new variant, called XEC, was first discovered in Germany and has already begun to spread in Europe and the USA.
How do coronavirus variants arise?
Since its emergence in 2019, the coronavirus has undergone a large number of significant mutations, with each mutation potentially altering the way the virus affects the body and affecting the ability to vaccinate against it.
The XEC strain was first discovered this year and, like previous variants, likely arose due to random changes in the virus’s genetic code as it replicated in the human host.
Mutations are a natural phenomenon in virology, but each new variant is a cause for concern because it changes the virus’s ability to evade the immune system or the protection offered by vaccines.
What is the XEC coronavirus variant?
XEC is considered a “variant of concern,” a category defined by the World Health Organization for variants that appear to have significant clinical impact in humans.
It has shown a high ability to invade the body’s cells, similar to previous variants of the coronavirus. Preliminary studies suggest that it binds particularly effectively to receptors in lung cells, potentially leading to rapid infection. It also appears that XEC manages to evade some of the antibodies produced due to previous vaccination or infection, giving it an advantage in dealing with the host’s immune system.
The new variant has another change made to the variant’s spike protein, making it possible to bypass some of the defenses the body had built up through previous vaccinations. However, it is unclear how strong this effect will be or whether changes to existing vaccines will be needed to effectively combat it.
What are the symptoms of the XEC variant of coronavirus?
Symptoms of the XEC variant are generally similar to those of earlier variants, but there are reports of some subtle changes in the clinical picture.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- dry cough
- Sore throat
- fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Headache
Some patients, particularly those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe symptoms, including shortness of breath. Early reports also suggest that some patients may experience a loss of smell and taste, although to a lesser extent than was common with previous variants.
Does the coronavirus vaccine work against the XEC variant?
As with any new variant, the question is whether existing vaccines are effective against it. Preliminary studies suggest that existing vaccines still offer some protection against XEC, especially in preventing severe disease and hospitalization.
However, the mutations found in this variant of the spike protein may reduce the full protective effect of vaccines, especially in preventing primary infection.
Vaccine makers have already begun studying the variant’s impact on the antibodies produced by current vaccines. If the XEC variant turns out to be able to evade the vaccine to a significant extent, new vaccines are expected to be developed to protect against it.
Where has the XEC coronavirus variant spread?
The XEC variant has been detected in several countries around the world, with countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, India and Brazil reporting an increase in the number of reported cases. Europe is currently experiencing a significant wave of contagion, with XEC considered to be one of the main causes.
