Dhaka, Sep 18 (V7N)— The new XEC variant of COVID-19 has been detected in 27 countries and is spreading rapidly, particularly across Europe. Scientists have warned that this new strain could soon become the dominant variant.

First identified in Germany in June, the XEC variant is a sublineage of Omicron, with new mutations that may enhance its transmission. The variant has since spread to the UK, US, Denmark, and several other countries, including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, and China. It has been notably prevalent in Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.

According to Professor Francois Balloux of University College London, while XEC shows a slight transmission advantage over other recent variants, vaccines remain effective in preventing severe cases. However, he cautioned that XEC might become the dominant strain during the winter months.

Eric Topol of the Scripps Research Translational Institute noted that XEC is still in the early stages of spreading globally, which could take weeks to months. Symptoms of the XEC variant are similar to previous strains, including fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell, loss of appetite, and body aches.

Experts recommend maintaining good hygiene practices and staying up-to-date with vaccinations and booster shots to mitigate severe illness. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised continued vigilance and careful monitoring of the XEC variant to better understand its impact and symptoms.

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