Covid Alert: Scientists Report Emergence of New Virus Covid variant, XECwhich could soon become the dominant strain. First identified in Germany in June 2024, XEC cases have since spread to the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark and other countries, according to X (formerly Twitter) users.
Covid XEC variant: Potential impact
Experts say the XEC variant, a sublineage of the Omicron variant, has mutations that could increase its transmission this fall. However, vaccines remain effective in preventing severe cases of Covid. People at higher risk should opt for a booster dose as a precaution.
Professor Francois Balloux, director of the Institute of Genetics at University College London, said in an interview with BBC News that while Covid variant XEC shows a slight transmission advantage over recent variants, vaccines should continue to provide strong protection. He warned that XEC could dominate the winter wave.
Covid XEC variant: symptoms to look out for
Symptoms associated with the XEC variant are similar to previous Covid strains, including:
Most people recover within weeks, although some may experience prolonged symptoms, according to reports. BBC.
Covid XEC variant: current spread and tracking
The BBC report citing one COVID-19 Data analyst Mike Honey said there was strong growth in XEC cases in Denmark and Germany.
However, the reduction in routine testing has made it difficult to assess the current prevalence of Covid.
Will your Covid vaccine protect you against XEC?
UKHSA deputy director Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam reiterated the importance of vaccination to the BBC, saying: “Vaccination provides the best protection against severe illness caused by Covid-19. We urge people contacted by the NHS to come forward for their autumn jab.”
Antibody to counteract all Covid-19 variants
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have isolated an antibody, called SC27, that has the potential to counteract all known coronavirus variants responsible for COVID-19as well as related strains that infect other animals.
This discovery was made from plasma donated by four patients who suffered post-vaccination infections despite being vaccinated. The findings were published in Cell Reports Medicine.
Since the emergence of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 has evolved to develop resistance to vaccines and treatments. The SC27 antibody is notable for its ability to recognize and target various features of the spike protein in different COVID-19 variants, offering a promising avenue for future treatments.
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