A new COVID variant known as the “XEC variant” has caught the attention of researchers, raising questions as we head into the fall and winter seasons.
The variant has mainly spread overseas, with the biggest surges seen in countries such as Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, but researchers say it also appears to be starting to increase in the United States.
So, what should you know about it?
Here is an explanation:
What is the XEC variant?
According to Eric Topol, director of the Translational Institute at the Scripps Research Institute in California, the XEC variant “seems most likely to be the next epidemic.”
At this point, it seems likely that the XEC variant will be the next to become popular. Mike Haney Threadshttps://t.co/4AnLa3MXfz
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 15, 2024
Topol reported that the variant is a “recombination of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3” and has “emerged in many countries with a growth advantage,” but he added that it may take time to fully understand how widespread the variant is.
Topol said the rise in the variant is due to a recent mutation. LA Times.
While KP.3 and its subvariant KP.3.1.1, nicknamed the FLuQE mutant, or deFLuQE mutant, each had their own mutations, XEC has mutated further, becoming a “highly pathogenic and highly immune evasive mutant,” according to the study.
He said that could be behind the recent wave of infections, making people sick who might not have had COVID-19 otherwise.
Where is it spreading?
The distinctive features of this variant remain primarily overseas, and XEC has not yet been detected widely enough to be included in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s variant ratio data tracking system.
The CDC estimates that KP.3.1.1 remains the dominant variant in the United States, currently accounting for more than half of COVID cases.
Data reported over the weekend showed the highest proportion of mutant strains were in Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Does the vaccine protect against the XEC variant?
Experts have said for some time that the COVID virus will continue to mutate.
This fall’s vaccine formulas are tailored to the new lineage of Omicron’s descendants: The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines target a variant called KP.2 that became prevalent earlier this year.
Further variants, notably KP.3.1.1, are currently circulating but are sufficiently closely related that the vaccine offers cross-protection and is expected to provide some protection against XEC as well.
A Pfizer spokesman said data the company submitted to the FDA showed the improved vaccine “produces significantly improved responses” against multiple virus subtypes compared with last fall’s vaccine.
While this summer’s COVID-19 outbreak is not over yet, winter outbreaks are likely to be more severe, and while COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death, protection against mild infection lasts for only a few months.
What are the symptoms?
It is not clear whether this new variant will result in changes in symptoms.
For now, the symptoms of COVID remain the same.
- cough
- sore throat
- snot
- sneeze
- Fatigue
- headache
- Muscle pain
- Changes in the sense of smell
- congestion
- Fever or chills
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
Recent Reports It focuses on specific gastrointestinal symptoms associated with the virus.
Dr. Caitlin Jeterina, a scientific advisor and epidemiologist at the CDC, said “gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea” have previously been identified as symptoms of COVID-19.
“While there is no specific data on the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms with current strains of the virus, symptoms of COVID-19 can certainly vary depending on the variant and individual,” Jeterina told NBC Chicago in July.
Chicago-area doctors said last fall they began seeing a change in the most common symptoms patients reported as the JN.1 variant became dominant.
Dr. Chantelle Tingfang, a family medicine physician at Provident Hospital of Cook County’s Senstac Health Center, noted at the time that many of the cases she saw had few symptoms of fever, body aches, or chills, but more often reported sore throat, fatigue, and cough.
“Some patients experience loss of appetite, loss of taste and smell, so it depends,” she said. “One patient was just extremely tired. She felt like she couldn’t do much. That’s when I realized it wasn’t that. It’s not just coughing and shortness of breath, but those are the symptoms.”
She encouraged people to see a doctor if symptoms don’t improve after the recommended isolation period.
How long will COVID last?
Symptoms may last for a few days, but in some cases may last longer.
According to the CDC, “Some people who are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 experience long-term effects from the infection, called long COVID or post-COVID status (PCC).”
These symptoms can last for weeks or even years.
However, previous timing guidelines have centered around five to 10 days.
What should I do if I test positive?
In March, the CDC updated its COVID guidelines to align with those for other respiratory infections. The CDC said that people with COVID-19 no longer need to stay away from others for five days, effectively lifting the five-day quarantine recommendation.
If your symptoms are mild and improving, and it’s been a day since you had a fever, you may be able to return to work or your usual activities, but the CDC still recommends that anyone with symptoms stay home.
“It is recommended that people return to normal activities once their symptoms have improved overall for at least 24 hours and fever, if present, has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medication,” the guidance states.
Even after activities resume, the CDC recommends “additional prevention strategies” such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance for an additional five days.
The agency says people should try to prevent infection in the first place by taking measures such as getting vaccinated, washing their hands and getting more fresh air outdoors.
As part of its guidance, the CDC suggests:
- stay Keep your vaccinations up to date To protect people from severe illness, hospitalization and death, including influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus infection where applicable.
- Practice good hygiene Take steps to prevent the spread of infection by covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing or sanitizing your hands frequently, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
- For clean airThis includes bringing in fresh air, purifying the air indoors, and gathering outdoors.
The shift comes at a time when COVID-19 is no longer the public health threat it once was, dropping from the third-leading cause of death in the United States early in the pandemic to 10th last year.
Most people have some immunity to the new coronavirus from previous vaccination or infection, and some experts say many people are not following the five-day quarantine guidelines.
Where can I get a free COVID test?
Following a summer surge in COVID-19 cases, Americans will be able to receive free virus testing kits via mail to their homes starting in late September.
When the federal program resumes, U.S. households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests, according to the website COVIDtests.gov. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the testing, has not announced an exact date when orders will begin.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the tests detect current strains of the virus and can be ordered before the holiday season, when families and friends gather to celebrate. As of last year, commercially available COVID-19 home test kits typically cost about $11.
