XEC Variant is Spreading Fast, 25 US States Already Affected

United States: As per the new reports, the new COVID-19 strain, XEC’s side effects might not be as dangerous but fall under the category of the more contagious variant class, experts reveal. 

More about XEC 

According to the CDC, XEC is a recombinant or hybrid of strains KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, both from the Omicron family, that emerged as the dominant strains in the United States in late December 2022. 

The variant that emerged at the end of June in Berlin has been observed to be causing hundreds of infections in Germany, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands, as noted in a report from Mike Honey, an Australia-based data integration specialist. 

XEC has also been reported in at least 25 US states, though some states could be missing as genetic testing is not usually conducted on all the positive tests, Joëlla W. Adams from RTI International epidemiologist. 

According to Adams, “We often use what happens in Europe as a good indication of what might happen here,” the USA News reported. 

“Whenever we’re entering into a season where we have multiple viruses occurring at the same time, like we’re entering into flu season, that obviously complicates things,” Adams continued.

However, current available COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots are particularly protective against XEC as it is a combination of two strains of Omicron. 

As per Adams, “These strains do have the advantage in the fact that they are more transmissible compared to other families, and so the vaccines that are currently being offered were not based on the XEC variant, but they are related.” 

Adams also postulated that, like other respiratory infections, COVID-19 and its recently emerged variants of Omicron will surge during the period students go back to class, kids are indoors, and people get together for the holidays. 

How can XEC and other variants be prevented?  

As per spokesperson Rosa Norman, the CDC continues to take into account the emergence of variants in the population. 

“At this time, we anticipate that COVID-19 treatments and vaccines will continue to work against all circulating variants,” Norman said, reported USA Today. 

“CDC will continue to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and vaccines against circulating variants,” Norman continues. 

According to the CDC, anyone over the age of six months, with some exceptions, should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the new 2024-2025 strains to prevent the virus even if they received prior shots or a COVID-19 infection.