Health experts warned of new dominant Covid strain dubbed XEC, which is expected to spread more rapidly. The strain was first spotted in Germany in June 2024, and cases of XEC spread to the other countries including US and UK.
The variant mutated is expected to spread more rapidly this autumn, and health authorities remain optimistic that existing vaccines will continue to offer strong protection against severe infections.
In UK, the healthcare system is urging individuals at higher risk of serious complications to get their free booster shots, with updated vaccines now available to better match recent variants—though not XEC specifically.
As health professional warned about its dominance, vaccines are still provide effective protection. XEC is likely to become the next dominant strain, though it will take time for it to reach high levels.
XEC’s symptoms mirror those of previous strong Corona variants, including fever, body aches, fatigue, cough, and sore throat. While most people recover within a few weeks, some may experience longer recovery periods.
Covid data analyst reported significant growth of variant in Denmark and Germany. However, with less routine testing compared to earlier in the pandemic, it’s becoming more difficult to assess how widespread the variant is globally.
UK Health Security Agency reassured public that it is closely monitoring the spread of XEC, emphasizing that virus mutations are a normal occurrence. Those eligible for the free Covid booster include adults aged 65 and over, care home residents, people in clinical risk groups over six months old, and certain frontline health and social care workers.
