New Covid XEC Variant Spreading Across Europe: What We Know

The more contagious XEC variant of the Covid virus, a sublineage of Omicron, is beginning to spread rapidly across Europe and may soon become the dominant strain, scientists warn. “At…

By Raunak Saha

September 16, 2024

3 min read

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The more contagious XEC variant of the Covid virus, a sublineage of Omicron, is beginning to spread rapidly across Europe and may soon become the dominant strain, scientists warn.

“At this juncture, the XEC variant seems most likely to take off next,” Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

In August, researchers predicted that the XEC variant could take weeks to months to spread more aggressively, and now, it appears to be doing just that. “XEC is certainly leading the charge,” Dr. Topol added.

New Covid XEC Variant Spreading Across Europe: What We Know

Rapid Spread of New Covid XEC Variant Across Europe: What You Need to Know

What is the XEC Variant?

First reported in Berlin, Germany, in June 2024, XEC is a sublineage of the Omicron variant. Covid data analyst Mike Honey has noted that XEC is now spreading “quite rapidly” across Europe, North America, and Asia. Slovenia reported high infection rates with XEC in August, with over 10% of the country’s Covid case samples containing the variant.

XEC is a hybrid of two previously identified Omicron subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3:

KS.1.1 is part of the FLiRT variant group, characterized by specific mutations in the spike protein used by the virus to attach to human cells.
KP.3.3 belongs to the FLuQE category, with mutations that make its binding to human cells more effective.

Where Has XEC Been Detected?

As of now, over 500 samples from 27 countries, including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, and China, have been found to contain XEC.

Symptoms and Protection

The symptoms of XEC are similar to previous Covid variants, including:

Fever
Sore throat
Cough
Loss of sense of smell
Loss of appetite
Body aches

Despite its increased contagiousness, experts believe that staying up to date with Covid vaccines and booster shots will provide sufficient protection against severe illness and hospitalization. The US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) also advises maintaining good hygiene and improving air quality to reduce the risk of infection.

FAQs on the XEC Variant

What makes the XEC variant different from other strains?

XEC is a hybrid of two Omicron subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, making it more contagious and effective at attaching to human cells. However, its symptoms remain similar to those seen in earlier variants.

Is the XEC variant more dangerous?

While XEC is more contagious, current vaccines and booster shots are expected to provide strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization. Its severity is still being studied.