A New COVID Variant Has Arrived: How Dangerous Is It?
A new COVID-19 variant is spreading rapidly around the world, and experts predict it will become the dominant strain this winter. Here's what we know so far.
The coronavirus continues to mutate, producing new variants, some of which are more contagious than their predecessors. One of these is the new XEC variant, a hybrid of two Omicron subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. This means it combines entire segments from both genomes, potentially making it more transmissible. The rapid spread of XEC supports this concern.
The XEC variant has already been detected in countries like Spain, the UK, the US, Denmark, France, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, Slovenia, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Experts believe XEC will likely become the dominant variant, outpacing other strains due to its transmission advantage.
Despite its faster spread, there is no evidence that XEC leads to more severe outcomes than previous strains. Doctors note that XEC causes symptoms similar to other currently circulating strains, including high fever, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, and cough. However, this autumn's situation is complicated by the potential overlap of COVID-19 variants with the flu and other common respiratory infections, which may lead to a spike in colds.
Both COVID and the flu are spreading particularly quickly in Germany, where the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has recorded a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses. By mid-October, over seven million cases of acute respiratory infections were reported in Germany. As the XEC variant continues to spread, epidemiologists expect it to dominate this winter's viral wave.
Additionally, health authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant during this period. Vaccination continues to be the most effective tool in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. With the emergence of XEC and the overlap of seasonal flu, experts recommend getting vaccinated against both viruses. Boosters tailored to combat the latest variants are becoming available, and maintaining protective measures such as wearing masks in crowded places and practicing good hygiene will help reduce the spread. The hope is that with these measures in place, we can mitigate the impact of this new variant during the winter months.