New COVID Variant XEC:
A new COVID-19 variant, called XEC, has recently been discovered .
- It was first found in Germany in August 2024, and scientists believe it may soon become the dominant variant worldwide.
- XEC is a recombinant variant, which means it was created from two different strains of the virus.
- Recombinant variants form when a person is infected with two different COVID-19 variants at the same time.
- When this happens, the two variants can mix their genetic material to create a new version of the virus.
- In the case of XEC, it is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants, both of which came from an earlier variant called JN.1.
- XEC has spread to 27 countries, with more than 600 cases reported. It is especially common in Europe, North America, and Asia. The highest number of cases is in Germany (13%), followed by the UK (7%) and the US (under 5%). Other variants, such as KP.3.1.1 and KP.3.3, are still more common in Europe, North America, and Asia, but XEC is growing fast.
- XEC has certain mutations that may help it spread faster than other variants. These mutations affect its spike protein, which is the part of the virus that helps it enter human cells. The T22N mutation from KS.1.1 and the Q493E mutation from KP.3.3 might make it easier for XEC to infect people. However, scientists are still studying whether these changes affect how severe the illness is.
