A new Covid variant is surging across the UK, with experts saying it’s “just getting started”. XEC was first detected in Germany in June, and has since been reported in the UK, Denmark and Ukraine. Symptoms include a high temperature, aches, tiredness, a cough or sore throat, trouble sleeping and a runny nose.
Data compiled by the Reach Data Unit shows what parts of the country are most affected by the new Covid-19 variant as well as other variants. It found that Carlisle had the highest rates, with 10.88 cases for every 100,000 people in the area.
The figures include all forms of Covid, not just the latest XEC variant, and analysed the seven days up to September 11.
Professor Francois Balloux, director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, told BBC News that although XEC has a “slight transmission advantage” over other recent Covid variants, vaccines should still offer good protection.
He also said it is possible XEC will become the dominant subvariant over the winter though.
Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, in California, Eric Topol says XEC is “just getting started”.
“And that’s going to take many weeks, a couple months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave,” he told the LA Times.
“XEC is definitely taking charge. That does appear to be the next variant. But it’s months off from getting into high levels.”
Those at risk of catching Covid are urged to get a booster vaccine. Covid tests and vaccines are still available at a number of high street chemists and private clinics. The main NHS vaccination drive will start again this month.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says it is “normal and expected” for viruses to mutate and change.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Deputy Director, said: “UKHSA continues to monitor all available information relating to emerging Covid variants in the UK and internationally, and to publish our data regularly.
“Vaccination provides the best protection against serious illness from Covid-19, and we urge those who are contacted by the NHS to come forward to receive their autumn vaccine.”
The countries where XEC cases have been reported are the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
