New Covid XEC variant starting to spread in Europe – what we know
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Researchers have cautioned that a new, "highly contagious" variant of the Covid virus, known as XEC, is beginning to spread quickly throughout Europe and may soon take over as the most prevalent strain.
"Right now, the XEC variant seems to be the one that is most likely to gain traction next," stated Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, in a post on X this past Sunday.
In August, scientists estimated that this variant might begin to gain traction and spread more quickly within a timeframe of several weeks to a few months.
"XEC is clearly taking the lead," stated Dr. Topol.
XEC, a descendant of the omicron variant, was initially identified in Berlin, Germany, in June and is currently spreading “fairly quickly” throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, as per Covid data expert Mike Honey.
In August, Slovenia experienced a significant spread of this variant, with more than 10 percent of Covid test samples from the country showing the presence of XEC.
It is a mix of earlier identified omicron subvariants – KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 – of the new coronavirus responsible for Covid.
The recombinant variant XEC is still on the rise and appears to be a strong contender against the currently prevailing DeFLuQE variants (KP.3.1.1.*).
Here are the top countries showing increases in XEC. Denmark and Germany are experiencing significant growth at rates of 16-17%, while the UK and Netherlands are also seeing positive trends, with growth between 11-13%. ???? pic.twitter.com/rLReeM9wF8
KS.1.1 is a specific example of what is often referred to as a FLiRT variant.
It is marked by changes in the basic molecules, where phenylalanine (F) is replaced with leucine (L), and arginine (R) is substituted with threonine (T) on the spike protein that the virus relies on to connect with human cells.
The second omicron subvariant, KP.3.3, falls into the FLuQE category. In this variant, the amino acid glutamine (Q) is replaced by glutamic acid (E) on the spike protein, which enhances its ability to attach to human cells.
To date, more than 500 samples collected from 27 nations—such as Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, and China—have been identified to have XEC.
Experts highlight significant increases in the variant's prevalence in Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.
As the novel coronavirus keeps changing, information indicates that XEC is increasing gradually every day and has an edge over the previously identified subvariants.
The symptoms of this variant resemble those seen in earlier Covid strains, such as high temperature, a sore throat, coughing, a diminished sense of smell, reduced appetite, and muscle pain.
However, because it remains a sub-family of the same omicron lineage, experts believe that staying current with vaccinations and booster shots will provide adequate protection against serious illness and the need for hospitalization.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States recommends that individuals maintain proper hygiene and implement measures to improve air quality.
Scientists are urging for closer observation of the XEC variant to gain a clearer understanding of its symptoms.
