COVID-19 XEC Variant: Symptoms to Watch for as Virus Surges

A new coronavirus virus variant, XEC, is rapidly spreading across the United States. XEC has become the second most prevalent strain in the country, according to data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), representing more than 1 in 10 cases. But what are the symptoms of XEC and how does it differ to previous strains? "There is no evidence, and no particular reason to believe, that XEC causes different symptoms than all the other SARS-CoV-2 currently in circulation," Professor Francois Balloux—a computational systems biologist at University College London in England—told Newsweek. "XEC is not expected to cause more (or less) severe symptoms than other lineages currently in circulation."

This means that XEC will likely produce the same cold- and flu-like symptoms as previous strains, including:

• High temperature
• Body aches
• Fatigue
• A cough or sore throat

However, the new strain does appear to be showing a growth advantage compared with the FLiRT variants that drove the surge in COVID cases this summer. "It's definitely one that I have my eye on," Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, told the Los Angeles Times.

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However, Balloux said that this surge may not be as severe as previous winters. "With a bit of luck, it will be milder since it is the first time since the start of the pandemic that no novel 'proper variant' has emerged this year," he said. XEC was first identified in Germany in June. From what we know so far, the variant has some new mutations that might help it spread this autumn and into the winter months. The variant is a rearrangement of two little-discussed preexisting variants: KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. KP.3.3 is one of the FLiRT variants, named after the mutations in the projections on the virus' surface that allow them to enter our cells. These projections, known as spike proteins, are also used as targets by our immune systems and vaccines. So changing their shape allows the virus to evade immune recognition. And it looks like XEC might be doing the same thing. "There have been over 3900 XEC cases sequenced so far," Balloux said. "XEC is most common in Central Europe at this stage where it represents over 30 percent of all COVID infections. It remains less common in other parts of the world but seems to be going up in frequency globally." It is unclear how well existing vaccines will protect against XEC. However, Balloux said they are likely to give at least some level of protection. "XEC has a very slight transmission advantage over most other SARS-CoV-2 currently in circulation, but protection provided by vaccines and prior SARS-CoV-2 infections against severe symptoms remains in place." Is there a health problem that's worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.