Tue Sep 17 16:43:55 UTC 2024: ## New Covid Variant XEC Spreads Across Europe, Potentially Emerging as Dominant Strain

**LONDON, September 16, 2024** – A new Covid-19 variant, dubbed XEC, has emerged in Europe, raising concerns about its potential dominance. First identified in Germany in June, the variant has since been detected in at least 13 countries, including Denmark and the UK.

XEC, a descendant of earlier Omicron subvariants, is characterized by a slight transmission advantage over other recent variants, according to Prof. Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London. This advantage has led to a significant increase in XEC cases in Denmark and Germany, where it accounts for 16-17% of new infections. The UK and Netherlands have also seen a notable surge in cases, with XEC representing 11-13% of new infections.

While XEC’s symptoms are believed to be similar to previous variants, including fever, body aches, tiredness, cough, sore throat, and loss of appetite, experts warn that the variant could become the dominant strain in Europe over the winter. However, existing vaccines are expected to offer good protection against XEC.

“Recombinant variant XEC is continuing to spread, and looks a likely next challenger against the now-dominant DeFLuQE variants,” said Covid data analyst Mike Honey in a post on X.

Despite these concerns, scientists emphasize that the situation remains fluid, and further monitoring is crucial to assess the full implications of XEC’s spread.

Read More