Fall begins Sunday and with the change of seasons, a brand new COVID subvariant that began circulating in Europe over the summer time has made its strategy to the U.S.
Referred to as XEC, this rising sublineage stems from the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The pressure had been detected in at the very least 15 international locations and 12 U.S. states as of Sept. 3, based on Outbreak.information, a Scripps Analysis COVID database.
“At this juncture, the XEC variant appears to be the most likely one to get legs next,” Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Analysis Translational Institute, posted on X final week. His remarks had been in response to a put up by Mike Honey, an information analyst in Australia who had charted XEC’s origins from Berlin, first showing in June.
XEC’s progress in latest weeks has been strongest in Denmark and Germany, adopted by the U.Ok. and the Netherlands, Honey’s evaluation reveals. Outbreak.information reported 95 XEC infections worldwide as of Sept. 3, from Canada to Italy to Taiwan, however hasn’t been up to date since. Honey posted Sept. 14 that his information indicated the subvariant had unfold to greater than 500 circumstances in 27 international locations, together with China and Ukraine.
At this juncture, the XEC variant seems to be the more than likely one to get legs subsequent. Its present standing properly tracked by @Mike_Honey_ ‘s threadhttps://t.co/4AnLa3MXfz
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 15, 2024
Whereas XEC is on the transfer, its prevalence stays comparatively low within the U.S., based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). An Omicron sublineage referred to as KP.3.1.1 (and nicknamed “DeFLuQE”) has not too long ago taken over, accounting for 53% of infections nationwide from Sept. 1–14, per the CDC’s COVID Information Tracker. XEC isn’t pervasive sufficient to even seem on the tracker—it must account for at the very least 1% of infections in a two-week span—however that might not be the case for lengthy.
XEC “could surpass KP.3.1.1 in the coming weeks,” Andrea Garcia, MPH, American Medical Affiliation (AMA) vice chairman of science, drugs, and public well being, mentioned within the Sept. 6 episode of the AMA Replace podcast. “There’s not a lot of data on this new subvariant at this point in time.”
XEC, based on Topol, is a mixture of Omicron sublineages KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.
What are the signs of XEC an infection?
The CDC has but to pinpoint signs particular to XEC an infection, however be aware of these typical COVID-19 signs:
- Congestion or runny nostril
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Muscle or physique aches
- New lack of style or scent
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath or issue respiratory
- Sore throat
These signs, the CDC says, warrant emergency medical care:
- Incapacity to wake or keep awake
- Lips, pores and skin, and nail beds that seem pale, blue, or grey
- New confusion
- Persistent ache or stress within the chest
- Bother respiratory
Does the brand new COVID vaccine shield in opposition to XEC?
The new 2024–25 COVID vaccines—manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax—arrived sooner than anticipated and are extensively out there at pharmacies, well being departments, pressing care facilities, and different well being care suppliers.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA-based and earmarked for the Omicron KP.2 pressure. The protein-based Novavax vaccine targets its parental lineage, JN.1. Whereas they weren’t engineered to fight XEC per se, they had been manufactured with the household of not too long ago circulating variants in thoughts.
The CDC recommends everybody aged 6 months and older get an up to date vaccine to guard themselves and their family members in opposition to extreme an infection, hospitalization, and loss of life.
“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Meals and Drug Administration’s Heart for Biologics Analysis and Analysis, mentioned in a information launch final month. “Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”
Most U.S. adults are eligible for a free vaccine by their personal medical insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid plans, the CDC says. The company’s Vaccines for Youngsters Program gives immunizations for kids 18 and youthful. Go to Vaccines.gov to discover a location close to you. You can even name 800-232-0233 or textual content your ZIP code to 438829.
The place is COVID spreading within the U.S.?
The nation is coming down from what CDC information present was its largest COVID summer time surge but. Take a look at positivity was 3.1% the week ended Could 11, climbing constantly earlier than peaking at 17.8% the week ended Aug. 10. Although that charge has ticked down, it’s nonetheless increased than it was at the moment final yr, with take a look at positivity projected to be 14.9% the week ended Sept. 7.
We’re not out of the woods but. Within the 4 weeks from Aug. 11–Sept. 7, the nationwide take a look at positivity charge was 17.1%, and no U.S. area had a charge beneath 10%. The 5 states that make up the CDC’s Area 6—Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas—had the best take a look at positivity, 20.5%.
As well as, the nationwide wastewater viral exercise stage remained “high,” the second-most extreme ranking, the week ended Sept. 7.
For extra on COVID-19:
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