AS Covid cases rise in the UK, people have started to catch a new variant known as XEC.
The new strain was first identified in Germany in June and has since emerged in the UK, as well as other countries like the US and Denmark.
3
Like many of the variants before it, XEC is part of the Omicron family – the strain that became dominant globally in 2021.
Early evidence has indicated it can be transmitted more easily, but health experts have assured the public that it’s very similar to previous variants and available vaccines work against it.
According to Clinical Pharmacist Kiran Jones at Oxford Online Pharmacy, symptoms remain the same as previous strains.
These include: high temperature, a cough, a sore throat, muscle pain/aches, a headache, nausea or vomiting and diarrhoea.
But Mr Jones said there are two symptoms infected people are likely to miss.
“People could be likely to miss a loss of taste or smell,” he said.
“Similarly to the other variants, these symptoms could be very mild initially and not become severe until the disease progresses.
“This means it could be a few days until people realise they’re struggling to taste or smell anything.”
Loss of taste or smell can begin four to five days after other symptoms, according to the expert, and last around seven to 14 days.
He added: “But some people may experience these for longer periods, with some studies finding them to last as long as one and a half years.”
The new strain is thought to be highly contagious because it has multiple mutations.
There currently isn’t enough evidence to suggest recovery is longer than other Covid variants.
People who catch the new strain should start to feel better within a few weeks of the onset of symptoms.
Can current Covid tests detect XEC?
3
The Covid tests you can currently buy should be able to detect the new strain, said Mr Jones.
These are available from the high street and online chemists.
But alternatively, people should consider getting the autumn vaccine if it is offered to them via the NHS.
Mr Jones said: “This includes care home residents for older adults, all adults aged 65 and over, anyone considered high-risk (six months to 65 years old) and frontline workers.
“For those not in these groups, you can buy the Pfizer vaccine at most high street and private clinics.”
Should we be worried about cases rising?
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recently released figures to suggest hospital admissions for Covid have risen in recent weeks.
But Mr Jones said this is relatively normal at this time of year due to the changes in weather and the rise in seasonal viruses.
He added: “If you believe you may have COVID, the best thing to do is take a test and if it is positive, follow government guidelines by self-isolating for five days and avoiding contact with others.”
Latest advice on the XEC strain
According to the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), one in 10 cases at the moment are an infection from the XEC strain.
There are no symptoms specific to XEC right now. The NHS has continued to list general symptoms of Covid which include:
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
A rise in Covid cases is expected during the winter months, but there are no signs of concern at the moment.
Although self-isolation is no longer a legal requirement in the UK, the NHS has advised anyone who tests positive for Covid to avoid contact with others for at least five days.
3
