New XEC COVID variant on the rise: What are the symptoms?

As the respiratory virus season approaches in the United States, some are concerned about whether XEC could cause a fall outbreak and whether the new COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out can prevent XEC.

What is known so far about the XEC variant, what symptoms it causes, and what to expect in the coming months.

What is the XEC COVID variant?

XEC is a mutant of the two previous mutants KP.3.3 ( FLiRT variant) and KS.1.1, Dr. Albert Ko, an infectious disease physician and professor at the Yale School of Public Health, spoke to TODAY.com.

“When a person is infected with two different SARS-CoV-2 variants, a phenomenon called recombination can occur, where some of the genetic material from one variant can recombine with the other variant to form a new variant,” Koh said.

Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told TODAY.com that the XEC variant is an Omicron sublineage, like previous variants that have been circulating in recent months.

These include the FLiRT strain and the variant currently dominant in the United States, KP.3.1.1 (which some scientists have named “DeFLuQE”).

According to Mike Honey, an Australian data scientist who has been tracking the spread of XEC, the variant first emerged in Berlin in late June before spreading rapidly across Europe, North America and Asia, Honey wrote. Posted on September 14th in X.

Hanney added that XEC has seen its “fastest growth” in Germany and Denmark, and is spreading rapidly elsewhere. XEC has been reported in at least 27 countries so far.

At least 95 cases have been reported in 12 states so far in the United States, according to the latest data from the Scripps Research Institute's COVID-19 database. Outbreak Info.

“It's definitely here, but it's not on the CDC tracking system because not enough cases have been detected,” Ko said. XEC has yet to report any cases. We Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Nowcast” predictionsprojects the proportion of COVID variants in the US over the past two weeks.

But this is expected to change: According to Honey, XEC “is likely to become the next challenger to the currently dominant DeFLuQE variant,” he writes. Posted on September 14th in X.

Is XEC highly contagious?

“[XEC]like many of the other Omicron variants that have been identified recently, appears to be highly contagious and spreads very easily, which is why it's gaining momentum,” Schaffner said.

XEC, like other COVID variants, spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes.

“We're seeing a rapid increase in cases right now, and it's the fastest-growing variant in several European countries,” Dr. Andrew Pecos, professor and associate dean of the department of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told TODAY.com.

“Any time a new variant emerges and starts to increase rapidly, that's the one we look at. … That's really the first signal that something might be going on,” Pecos said.

The XEC variant has at least one mutation in the spike protein, which could make it more transmissible, Pecos said, but it's unclear whether XEC will outcompete other variants.

“It appears to be behaving similarly to many other Omicron variants. So far, no alarm bells have been raised regarding XEC,” Schaffner said.

Will XEC cause a sell-off in the US?

“The summer 2024 wave has been more pronounced and longer-lasting than expected and is only just beginning to subside,” Schaffner said.

There is no COVID “season” in the U.S., and activity can continue throughout the year. Experts note that cases tend to peak in the winter, which is respiratory virus season, but spikes could also occur in the spring and summer. According to the CDC:.

Pecos said the timing and severity of COVID-19 outbreaks are difficult to predict, but he speculates that the size of the summer outbreak that provided immunity to some people means that this winter's outbreak may be slower or less severe than last year's. But it's unclear how the coming months will play out.

It's also too early to know whether XEC or another variant will cause a fall or winter surge. “New variants with new mutations will emerge, some of which will cause a surge and some of which will not,” Ko said.

“XEC may become the next big thing and make waves, but we don't know how big those waves will be,” Ko added.

One thing we do know is that respiratory virus season is fast approaching, and viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza spread more easily in the winter when people spend time together indoors.

“We are confident that cases will increase in the winter months. We don't know when or how much, but that has nothing to do with whether or not people decide to get vaccinated,” Schaffner added.

What are the symptoms of XEC?

XEC is still in its early stages of emergence, and there isn't much information yet about its symptoms and other clinical characteristics, Pecos said, but so far it doesn't appear to cause distinctive symptoms or more severe disease.

“It's the same as always,” Schaffner added. The symptoms caused by XEC are similar to those caused by previous Omicron variants. Symptoms include:

• sore throat
• cough
• Fatigue
• Headaches and body aches
• congestion
• snot
• Fever or chills
• shortness of breath
• Nausea and loss of appetite
• diarrhea
• Loss of taste or smell

“You may feel sick for a few days, but symptoms vary from person to person and some people can be contagious without showing any symptoms,” Schaffner said.

People in high-risk groups are more likely to develop severe illness. This includes people over 65, those with underlying medical conditions (such as diabetes or heart disease), and those who are immunocompromised.

“There's nothing particularly remarkable about XEC, both in terms of the symptoms it causes, its toxicity and its ability to cause hospitalization or death,” Ko said. So far, XEC appears to be similar to KP.2 and KP.3, he added.

Will the COVID vaccine protect against XEC?

of Latest COVID-19 Vaccines Vaccines for 2024-2025 are available and are recommended by the CDC for everyone aged 6 months or older.

The new mRNA vaccines are monovalent, meaning they target one variant — in this case the previously dominant KP.2 variant, Pecos said. “[XEC]appears to be more closely related to the vaccine strain, so coverage should be good,” he added.

“Although it is a new vaccine, there are some early laboratory studies that show that the improved vaccine prevents severe disease caused by this variant,” Schaffner added.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in protecting people from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. According to the CDC:This means that if you get COVID-19 after getting the vaccine, you will still be protected.

Pecos points out that the strains targeted in the COVID vaccines are selected in the summer, about three to four months before a vaccine is available. “The vaccine strains don't change, but the virus continues to infect people and mutate, so it's never a 100% match,” he added.

However, even if the XEC variant becomes widespread in the United States this fall, current vaccines are likely to provide protection.

“Now (through October) is a good time to get vaccinated,” Coe said. The CDC recommends waiting three months before getting vaccinated if you recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection, but be sure to talk to your doctor.

Schaffner said it's especially important for people at higher risk of severe illness to get the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine. As TODAY.com previously reported, the virus is still circulating at relatively high levels in the country, so these groups need to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Experts worry that low vaccination rates could expose more vulnerable populations to the virus this winter. “We had poor coverage last year, with only 24% of the (eligible) population actually getting vaccinated, so we're hopeful we'll see better results this fall,” Schaffner said.

Testing and Quarantine Guidelines

Experts say current COVID-19 tests are expected to be able to detect the XEC variant and other strains in circulation.

People should get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or suspect they may have it, and it's also a good idea to get tested before any large events or gatherings that bring together high-risk people, Schaffner said.

of The CDC recommends Stay home if you feel unwell and only return to normal activities once your fever has subsided and Symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours.

Antiviral drugs such as Paxlobidi remain effective and are recommended, especially for people at high risk of severe illness, Schaffner noted. These drugs are most effective when taken within the first few days after symptoms begin.

How to protect yourself from XEC

As fall approaches, please take the following steps to protect yourself from COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

• Keep your vaccinations up to date.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces.
• Improves ventilation.
• Practice good hand hygiene.
• Please practice social distancing.