COVID Variant XEC Could Become Dominant Soon: How You Can Protect Yourself

The COVID-19 variant XEC, which has beenspreading across Europe, now accounts for 17% of cases in the United States.The XEC variant is an Omicron offshoot. Research shows that it’s a hybrid of the Omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, the latter of which spawned from KP.3, which was spreading this summer. This new variant has several mutations on the spike protein, which the virus uses to latch onto and infect cells.“It seems to be a bit more infectious than previous strains, and it’s more immune-evasive, depending on your prior immunity,”Thomas Russo, MD,a professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Verywell.How Transmissible Is XEC?One preprint study suggests XEC could become the dominant strain worldwide soon.Russo said that the immunity many Americans have built up to COVID-19 is “waning,” given that many people haven’t gotten the updated vaccine. “As a result, we have an increasing pool of susceptible hosts,” he added.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also noted that XEC may look “new to your immune system,” which can escape your immunity and make you sick.While many people didn’t get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, a wave of infections in late summer may cause some “cross immunity” between variants that may “blunt the impact” of XEC, saidAmesh A. Adalja, MD, an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.Russo said the rise of XEC is a good reminder to get the updated vaccine. “We need to keep up with our immunity,” he added.“The best way to do this is to receive the updated vaccine formulation that’s available," Russo said. “It’s a pretty close match to the circulating variants right now in this country, and the best way to minimize your chance of getting seriously ill.”The CDC also recommendsadults ages 65 and older get a second dose of the updated COVID vaccinesix months after their first dose.What Are the Symptoms of XEC?There are “no distinct symptoms” that make the XEC variant different from previous strains of COVID-19, said Adalja said.Those symptoms include:Fever or chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingSore throatCongestion or runny noseNew loss of taste or smellFatigueMuscle or body achesHeadacheNausea or vomitingDiarrheaIf you experience any COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone who’s infected, a rapid test can help you identify an infection. You canorder more free COVID testsif you haven’t done so already.What This Means For YouThe XEC COVID-19 variant is poised to become the dominant variant worldwide. Now is a good time to get an updated COVID vaccine to protect yourself during peak COVID season if you haven’t done so.

The COVID-19 variant XEC, which has beenspreading across Europe, now accounts for 17% of cases in the United States.

The XEC variant is an Omicron offshoot. Research shows that it’s a hybrid of the Omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, the latter of which spawned from KP.3, which was spreading this summer. This new variant has several mutations on the spike protein, which the virus uses to latch onto and infect cells.

“It seems to be a bit more infectious than previous strains, and it’s more immune-evasive, depending on your prior immunity,”Thomas Russo, MD,a professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Verywell.

How Transmissible Is XEC?

One preprint study suggests XEC could become the dominant strain worldwide soon.

Russo said that the immunity many Americans have built up to COVID-19 is “waning,” given that many people haven’t gotten the updated vaccine. “As a result, we have an increasing pool of susceptible hosts,” he added.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also noted that XEC may look “new to your immune system,” which can escape your immunity and make you sick.

While many people didn’t get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, a wave of infections in late summer may cause some “cross immunity” between variants that may “blunt the impact” of XEC, saidAmesh A. Adalja, MD, an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Russo said the rise of XEC is a good reminder to get the updated vaccine. “We need to keep up with our immunity,” he added.

“The best way to do this is to receive the updated vaccine formulation that’s available,” Russo said. “It’s a pretty close match to the circulating variants right now in this country, and the best way to minimize your chance of getting seriously ill.”

The CDC also recommendsadults ages 65 and older get a second dose of the updated COVID vaccinesix months after their first dose.

What Are the Symptoms of XEC?

There are “no distinct symptoms” that make the XEC variant different from previous strains of COVID-19, said Adalja said.

Those symptoms include:

If you experience any COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone who’s infected, a rapid test can help you identify an infection. You canorder more free COVID testsif you haven’t done so already.

What This Means For YouThe XEC COVID-19 variant is poised to become the dominant variant worldwide. Now is a good time to get an updated COVID vaccine to protect yourself during peak COVID season if you haven’t done so.

What This Means For You

The XEC COVID-19 variant is poised to become the dominant variant worldwide. Now is a good time to get an updated COVID vaccine to protect yourself during peak COVID season if you haven’t done so.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker: summary of variant surveillance.Kaku Y, Okumura K, Kawakubo S, et al.Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XEC variant.bioRxiv. Preprint posted online October 17, 2024. doi:10.1101/2024.10.16.618773KFF.KFF COVID-19 vaccine monitor.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.SARS-CoV-2 variant XEC increases as KP.3.1.1 slows.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker: summary of variant surveillance.Kaku Y, Okumura K, Kawakubo S, et al.Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XEC variant.bioRxiv. Preprint posted online October 17, 2024. doi:10.1101/2024.10.16.618773KFF.KFF COVID-19 vaccine monitor.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.SARS-CoV-2 variant XEC increases as KP.3.1.1 slows.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker: summary of variant surveillance.Kaku Y, Okumura K, Kawakubo S, et al.Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XEC variant.bioRxiv. Preprint posted online October 17, 2024. doi:10.1101/2024.10.16.618773KFF.KFF COVID-19 vaccine monitor.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.SARS-CoV-2 variant XEC increases as KP.3.1.1 slows.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker: summary of variant surveillance.

Kaku Y, Okumura K, Kawakubo S, et al.Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XEC variant.bioRxiv. Preprint posted online October 17, 2024. doi:10.1101/2024.10.16.618773

KFF.KFF COVID-19 vaccine monitor.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.SARS-CoV-2 variant XEC increases as KP.3.1.1 slows.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.

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