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New COVID variant XEC spreads quickly but remains similar to others

theconversation.com — September 19, 2024, 06:00 PM UTC

Summary: A new COVID variant called XEC is spreading quickly, first detected in Germany in August 2024. It is a recombinant variant, formed from two existing variants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, which share a common ancestor, JN.1.

As of September 18, XEC has been identified in 27 countries, with the highest cases in the US, Germany, UK, Canada, and Denmark. While it is currently a minority variant, it shows a growth advantage and may soon become dominant globally.

XEC has similar symptoms to other COVID variants, including fever and cough. An autumn booster campaign in the UK will begin in October, targeting the JN.1 variant, which should provide protection against severe illness from XEC.

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Timeline:

  1. [4.4]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads in Europe with flu-like symptoms (Onmanorama)
    16h
    Source
  2. [3.7]
    Drug-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants identified in immunocompromised patients (news-medical.net)
    20h
    Source
  3. [4.9]
    New XEC COVID variant spreads in US with mild symptoms (today.com)
    24h
    Source
  4. [5.1]
    New COVID variant XEC detected in 25 states including New Jersey (cbsnews.com)
    1d 2h

    ScoresSource
  5. [5.4]
    New COVID subvariant XEC emerges as U.S. sees summer case decline (fortune.com)
    1d 8h

    ScoresSource
  6. [4.4]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads to 27 countries including US and UK (news18.com)
    1d 8h
    Source
  7. [4.8]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly across Europe and US (hindustantimes.com)
    1d 10h
    Source
  8. [4.5]
    Scientists warn of potential rise in Covid XEC variant this autumn (Mint)
    1d 11h
    Source
  9. [3.3]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly in 27 countries (india.com)
    1d 12h
    Source
  10. [5.3]
    New XEC Covid variant spreads globally with similar symptoms to Omicron (Business Standard)
    1d 13h

    ScoresSource
  11. [4.7]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads to 15 countries and 12 US states (The Independent)
    1d 17h
    Source
  12. [4.6]
    New Covid XEC variant spreads rapidly across Europe and beyond (news.yahoo.com)
    1d 17h
    Source
  13. [4.5]
    New Covid XEC variant spreads rapidly across Europe (independent.co.uk)
    1d 17h
    Source
  14. [3.3]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads to 20 countries since June detection (express.co.uk)
    2d 1h
    Source
  15. [5.3]
    New COVID variant XEC spreads to 11 European countries (euronews.com)
    2d 10h

    ScoresSource
  16. [4.3]
    New COVID variant XEC spreads to 15 countries since June (Firstpost)
    2d 10h
    Source
  17. [2.9]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads to 27 countries raising concerns (thesun.co.uk)
    2d 11h
    Source
  18. [4.9]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly across Europe (India Today)
    2d 12h
    Source
  19. [4.8]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads to 15 countries and 12 US states (independent.co.uk)
    2d 12h
    Source
  20. [4.8]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads to 15 countries and 12 US states (news.yahoo.com)
    2d 12h
    Source
  21. [3.8]
    New XEC Covid variant spreads rapidly and may dominate this winter (mirror.co.uk)
    2d 12h
    Source
  22. [3.1]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly across Europe and beyond (India.com)
    2d 14h
    Source
  23. [4.6]
    New Covid XEC variant spreads rapidly across Europe (The Independent)
    2d 17h
    Source
  24. [5.1]
    New COVID XEC variant emerges in Europe with mild symptoms (NBC Chicago)
    2d 22h

    ScoresSource
  25. [3.1]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly across Europe (express.co.uk)
    3d 0h
    Source
  26. [3.9]
    New XEC Covid variant spreads across Europe as cases decline in Northern Ireland (Belfast Live)
    3d 1h
    Source
  27. [4.4]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly across Europe (The Express Tribune)
    3d 6h
    Source
  28. [3.7]
    New COVID variant XEC spreads rapidly worldwide (zeenews.india.com)
    3d 8h
    Source
  29. [5.1]
    New Covid variant XEC spreading, may enhance transmissibility (bbc.com)
    3d 9h

    ScoresSource
  30. [3.0]
    Autumn Booster targets vulnerable as Covid XEC spreads (The Mirror)
    3d 9h
    Source
  31. [4.5]
    New Covid variant XEC spreading rapidly in Europe (independent.co.uk)
    3d 12h
    Source
  32. [4.4]
    XEC variant spreads in Europe, may be more contagious (liverpoolecho.co.uk)
    3d 12h
    Source
  33. [3.1]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly, symptoms to watch (express.co.uk)
    3d 12h
    Source
  34. [3.1]
    Covid variant XEC spreads; tests available at pharmacies (mirror.co.uk)
    3d 12h
    Source
  35. [4.5]
    New XEC Covid variant spreads rapidly across Europe (independent.co.uk)
    3d 14h
    Source
  36. [3.2]
    New Covid variant XEC expected to dominate this winter (mirror.co.uk)
    3d 15h
    Source
  37. [2.7]
    New XEC Covid variant spreads to 15 countries (Express)
    4d 3h
    Source
  38. [3.7]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly across Europe (Daily Record)
    4d 6h
    Source
  39. [3.7]
    New Covid XEC variant spreading globally; watch for symptoms (HeraldScotland)
    4d 8h
    Source
  40. [4.0]
    New Covid variant XEC spreads rapidly across 15 countries (Chronicle Live)
    4d 12h
    Source