6 things to know about the new Covid variant XEC

While the current wave of Covid-19 is slowing down a bit in the US, emergence of a new Covid variant XEC has left health authorities worried about its spread with the onset of colder weather. The recombinant strain of two closely related variants called KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 - both descendants of JN.1 strain, collectively known as XEC, may spread its wings across the US soon. With many more additional mutations, XEC may spread more efficiently compared to the previous strains. There is no sign of Covid-19 fading into the background as newer variants continue to emerge.

Here are 6 things you need to know about new Covid variant XEC:

1. It is more infectious

According to experts, the new Covid-19 variant XEC has a bunch of additional mutations, which means it is more infectious than other strains. It is important to follow social distancing and appropriate hygiene measures to evade infections.

2. It is starting to spread in many countries

While the XEC variant originated in Germany, it is spreading fast in the US, UK and China and in total the variant has been spotted in 27 countries. It has been detected in Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, and Portugal. There have been 23 cases in the US currently, including three in California.

3. Symptoms remain mild

All the new variants have originated from Omicron and their symptoms remain similar to it and mild. Fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, difficulty in breathing, muscle and body pain, headache, nausea, and diarrhea are some of the common symptoms of XEC.

4. Will it be preventable by vaccine?

The updated Covid-19 vaccine has been formulated on the basis of KP.2 strain of the virus. Unfortunately, the virus is evolving faster than vaccines are updating. Experts are not sure about the effectiveness of the latest Covid vaccine, but it can still protect vulnerable populations from hospitalization and severe disease.

5. It may become dominant in winters

"At this juncture, the XEC variant appears to be the most likely one to get legs next,” said Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, in a post on X. Experts are of the view that in the coming months, the variant will take charge and spread more rapidly.

6. More about the variants that make the recombinant

XEC is a recombinant of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. Both KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 are descendants of the JN.1 strain.
KS.1.1 is one of the FLiRT variants that are among the strains driving the number of cases in many countries. KP.3.3 is a type of FLuQE variant, where the amino acid glutamine (Q) is mutated to glutamic acid (E) on the spike protein, making it more efficient in binding to human cells.

When it comes to preventing Covid infection, following the basics is crucial. Avoid crowds and interact with a reasonable distance. Wash your hands frequently and do not forget your masks when going to crowded areas. It's also important to naturally boost your immunity be eating a diet of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and protein.