2024-09-23 16:32:27
A new strain of COVID-19 called XEC has already been identified in 27 countries around the world. Experts believe that in the coming months, especially in the winter, this variant may become predominant.
The Independent reported this.
Analyst Mike Honey noted a significant increase in the number of infections with the new XEC strain in countries such as Denmark and Germany. The variant has now been detected in hundreds of patients in 27 countries, including Europe, North America and Asia.
In the US and Canada, the spread of XEC remains at a lower level. As of August 19, the strain was confirmed in 5.96% of cases in Europe, and in Slovenia, the variant was detected in more than 10% of COVID samples in August. Mike Honey, founder and CEO of Manga Solutions, an IT company with over 25 years of experience, explained that XEC is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 strains and causes symptoms similar to other COVID-19 variants: fatigue, headaches, sore throat, and fever.
Professor Francois Balloux, director of the Institute of Genetics at University College London, pointed out that XEC is highly infectious. However, he noted that vaccines should remain effective because the strain belongs to the Omicron family. Balloux also believes that XEC could become the dominant variant of the virus as early as winter.
Earlier, Cursor wrote that Scientists say humanity needs to prepare for a new pandemicThe emergence and spread of new pathogens is inevitable.