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The side effects of the newly discovered COVID-19 strain XEC may not be as severe, but experts believe it is one of the more contagious variants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines XEC as a recombinant or hybrid of strains KS.1.1 and KP.3.3., both from the Omicron family, which became the predominant strain in the United States in late December 2022.
The variant, which first appeared in Berlin in late June, has increasingly appeared in hundreds of cases in Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands, according to a report by Australia-based data integration specialist Mike Honey.
XEC has also been reported in at least 25 U.S. states, but there may be more because not every positive test results in genetic testing, said epidemiologist Joëlla W. Adams of RTI International.
“We often use what’s happening in Europe as a good indication of what might happen here,” Adams told USA TODAY on Friday. “When we enter a season where there are multiple viruses at the same time, like flu season, of course that complicates things.”
What is the XEC variant?
The new COVID strain XEC is a recombinant strain of two variants of the omicron family: KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.
The hybrid strain was first reported in Berlin in late June, but has spread throughout Europe, North America and Asia, with the countries with the most cases being Germany, France, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Is the XEC variant more contagious?
While there is no evidence that the XEC strain will increase the severity of the virus, it could potentially become a dominant strain because omicron variants are more contagious. However, the currently available COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots are particularly protective against XEC because it is a hybrid of two omicron strains.
“These strains have the advantage of being more contagious compared to other families. The vaccines currently offered are therefore not based on the XEC variant, but are related,” said Adams.
Like other respiratory infections, COVID-19 and its new omicron variants will become increasingly prevalent in the fall and winter, as students return to school, children spend more time indoors and people visit family for the holidays, according to Adams.
How can we protect ourselves from XEC and other variants?
According to spokeswoman Rosa Norman, the CDC continues to monitor the emergence of variants in the population.
“At this time, we expect COVID-19 treatments and vaccines will continue to work against all circulating variants,” Norman said in a statement to USA TODAY. “The CDC will continue to monitor the effectiveness of treatments and vaccines against circulating variants.”
The CDC recommends that all persons 6 months of age and older (with some exceptions) be vaccinated with a current (2024-2025) COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the virus, regardless of whether or not they have previously been vaccinated or infected.
Norman urged Americans to monitor the agency’s COVID Data Tracker for updates on new variants.
KP.3.1.1: This dominant COVID-19 variant accounts for over 50% of cases, new CDC data shows
Which COVID strain is predominant in the US?
The COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 is currently the predominant strain, accounting for more than half of all positive infections in the United States, according to recent CDC projections.
Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 14, 52.7 percent of positive infections were of the KP.3.1.1 strain, followed by KP.2.3 at 12.2 percent, according to the agency’s Nowcast data tracker, which shows COVID-19 estimates and projections for two-week periods.
KP.3.1.1 first became the dominant strain during the two-week period from July 21 to August 3.
“The KP.3.1.1 variant is very similar to other variants circulating in the United States. All current lineages are descendants of JN.1, which emerged in late 2023,” Norman previously told USA TODAY.
COVID XEC symptoms
There is no evidence that the XEC variant has its own unique symptoms.
The CDC continues to describe basic COVID-19 symptoms, which can appear between two and 14 days after exposure to the virus and can range from mild to severe.
These are some of the symptoms of COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- fatigue
- Muscle or limb pain
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
According to the CDC, you should see a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
- Breathing difficulties
- Persistent chest pain or pressure
- New confusion
- Inability to wake up or stay awake
- Pale, gray or bluish skin, lips or nail beds
Contributors: Ahjané Forbes
