COVID variant XEC seeing rapid growth across globe. Here’s what to know

COVID has mutated into many different variants over the years.

But the latest strain – XEC is poised to become the most contagious and dominant strain heading into the winter and flu season.

XEC was first identified in Germany in June, but has now spread across 27 countries including Denmark, France, Netherlands, England and the U.S.

Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for FOX News said “It seems to be more contagious — it causes congestion, cough, loss of smell and appetite, sore throat and body aches.”

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the COVID XEC variant?

XEC is a combination of preexisting variants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.

KP.3.1.1 has been the dominant strain the in the U.S., accounting for more than half of infections, also known as FLiRT. It is derives from the Omicron variant.

What are COVID XEC symptoms?

It is too early to know if there are any additional new symptoms, but it is expected that they include many of the same as prior COVID strains and the flu, such as:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

Should you get the new COVID vaccine?

Last month, the new COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer were approved for the 2024-2025 season. They were designed against KP.2, a predecessor of KP.3.1.1, so they are a considered a close match for the main circulating variants.

According to news source, Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said she thought the new vaccines would still provide some good protection against XEC “because there is some overlap, because these are all sub, sub, sub-grandchildren of the original Omicron. So there is still going to be some level of protection there.”

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older, with some exceptions, receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the virus, regardless whether or not you have previously been vaccinated or infected.

Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic region.