New coronavirus variant XEC may spread more easily than previous variants
Jarun Ontakrai/Shutterstock
A new COVID-19 variant called XEC has begun to spread around the world, primarily in Europe. Early evidence suggests that this variant may be more easily transmitted than past variants, but public health experts say this new variant is very similar to past ones and available vaccines are effective. Here’s what we know so far about XEC.
What is the new covid-19 XEC variant?
XEC is a combination of two other SARS-CoV-2 variants, known as KP.3.3 and KS.1.1, that formed when the two variants infected the same organism, such as an animal or a human, at the same time and shared genetic material.
XEC is a genetic offshoot of Omicron, a highly contagious variant that first emerged in South Africa in 2021. “You can think of these new variants as the great-grandchild or great-grandchild of Omicron,” says William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee. That means they have a lot in common with other Omicron variants, including being more easily spread and causing less severe symptoms than earlier SARS-CoV-2 strains.
When and where was XEC identified?
XEC was first identified in August among COVID-19 samples collected in Berlin two months ago.
The first cases of this variant emerged in Italy in May, but those samples were not uploaded to the Global Initiative on Sharing Influenza Data (GSAID), an international database that tracks SARS-CoV-2 variants, until September.
How many cases of XEC are there?
More than 600 cases of XEC have been reported in 27 countries, including the UK, Germany, Canada and the US, according to GSAID data, but “not all countries report data consistently to GSAID, so the XEC variant is likely present in many more countries,” said Bhanu Bhatnagar, director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional office for Europe.
The variant is circulating in Europe, where it has been detected in at least 13 countries, Bhatnagar said. So far, XEC accounts for about 8% of all samples analyzed and reported in the continent this month, according to GSAID data. That compares to about 4% of samples in August. The most commonly analyzed variant in Europe is KP.3.1.1, also in the Omicron family, which accounts for 48% of all samples, Bhatnagar said.
XEC is most prevalent in France, accounting for about 21% of COVID-19 samples, and is also becoming more prevalent in Germany and the UK, where it accounts for 15% and 8% of samples, respectively, said François Baroux of University College London.
The new variant has also been detected in the United States, where it accounts for about 1% of cases, Ballou said. However, XEC is not listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Variant Tracking System, which incorporates variants that account for 1% of all cases in a week.
What are the symptoms of XEC?
So far, XEC causes the same symptoms as other COVID-19 variants, including fever, sore throat, cough and muscle aches. “We’ll be listening and seeing if there are any distinctive symptoms clinically,” Schaffner said. “It’s suspicious, but it’s always a possibility.”
How dangerous is XEC?
XEC doesn’t appear to be more dangerous or cause more severe disease than previous COVID-19 variants, Schaffner said. The WHO hasn’t designated it a variant of concern, either. That’s because it shares a lot in common with other Omicron subvariants, including causing milder symptoms than previous strains, Schaffner said.
Is XEC highly contagious?
It’s too early to tell if XEC is more transmissible than other variants, says James Fielding of the WHO, but it may have the advantage of spreading more easily, given that it has taken hold among other circulating variants.
For example, preliminary analysis by Australian data expert Mike Honey suggests that XEC will become the dominant variant in Europe and the U.K. in October. He predicts the same will happen in the U.S. and Canada in late November or early November.
“I think we’ll just have to wait and see how widespread this particular strain becomes,” Schaffner said.
Are COVID-19 vaccines still effective against XEC?
The good news is that current COVID-19 vaccines may still protect against XEC, Schaffner said, because updated versions target the Omicron variant.
The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months or older get the latest COVID-19 booster shot if they haven’t already received it this year. In the UK, the latest vaccines are being offered to people aged 75 and over, elderly care home residents and people with weakened immune systems.
Ultimately, Schaffner says there’s no reason to panic about XEC. “This virus is just starting, but it seems to be following patterns,” he said. “My reaction is the same as always.”
topic:
