According to an update on Covid figures released by Ireland’s health authority, the most recent form, known as XEC, is spreading, reports The Mirror.
Because of its many changes, the new strain—a hybrid of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants—is believed to be more contagious.
According to Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre, XEC currently accounts for 20.6% of verified cases that have been reported in the last five weeks, a notable rise from 5.4% over the same time frame.
It stated: “The XEC variation (KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 recombinant, both a WHO and ECDC VOI) has been progressively increasing in incidence in Ireland and across the world from week 35 2024. To yet, there is no proof that the currently circulating versions of the vaccine are less effective against severe illness or have increased clinical severity The XEC lineage accounted for 20.6% of sequences between weeks 38 to 42 2024. This compares to 5.4% between weeks 33 to 37 2024,” reports The Mirror.
According to reports, the symptoms of the new XEC strain are comparable to those of earlier Covid strains, which has raised concerns about it possibly taking over Ireland. Nonetheless, scientists at the University of Southern California have identified the precise order in which XEC symptoms manifest, reports The Mirror.
According to the experts, this finding may be crucial in differentiating the novel variation from previous winter illnesses. The following is a summary of the symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Muscle pain, or headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
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