A new, “stronger” Covid-19 variant is spreading across Europe and the world, but experts warn that this is “just the beginning.”

The XEC strain was first detected in Germany in June and has since been identified in 15 countries on three continents.

According to experts, this strain could become the dominant variant within a few months in cold weather.

The director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, Eric Topol, said XEC was “just beginning globally and here.”

He added to the LA Times: “And it will take many weeks, a few months, for it to really take hold and make waves.”

The XEC strain was first discovered in Germany in June and has since been detected in 15 countries on three continents. (Archive photo)

The XEC strain could become dominant within weeks or months as the weather gets colder

“XEC is definitely taking the lead. That seems to be the next option.”

“But it will take months before we reach high levels.”

Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional director of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said health experts will continue to monitor the variant in the coming weeks.

Dr Hudson said XEC has been reported in Western Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands, and is spreading rapidly.

XEC has emerged in the US, but its adoption is still limited.

The strain, a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants, causes symptoms similar to those of common illnesses such as flu and colds.

Most people get better within a few weeks, but for others, recovery may take longer and some may even need to be hospitalized.

Common symptoms include high fever, persistent cough, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, and tiredness or fatigue.

In addition, cold symptoms such as headache, sore throat, a stuffy or runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting often occur.

Common symptoms include high fever, persistent cough and loss of taste or smell. (Archive photo)

The XEC strain comes after health experts warned of the spread of the FLiRT variant in the UK

The launch of XEC comes after warnings about the FLiRT variant sweeping the UK in the spring and summer of 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, all of which were descendants of variant JN.1.

The latest figures from the UK show that the number of Covid cases has increased by 4.3 percent week-on-week.

England also reported 102 Covid-related deaths by August 30.

During the same period, hospitals recorded 1,465 Covid admissions.

However, the British health authority has not yet provided detailed data on the XEC variant.