Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Sept 11, 2024 1:31:22 GMT
New Covid strain dubbed 'XEC' surging in Europe as docs warn 'it's just getting started' - Published Sept 9, 2024
The strain was first noticed in Germany, after a surge in cases was reported there, and now a top doctor has warned that the XEC strain will take hold and that it's 'just getting started'
By Adam Cailler
A new strain of Covid has been discovered sweeping through Europe, with doctors warning “it's jut getting started”.
According to reports in Germany, the new sub variant has been dubbed XEC and has already overtaken the previously dominant FliRT strain of the deadly virus. Covid cases worldwide surged over the summer thanks to the previous strain, but now doctors are sounding alarm bells about the new variant, after a rise in cases in Germany was spotted.
Posting on social media site Twitter/X, and speaking to the LA Times, Dr Eric Topol – the director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute – warned that it could take a while for it to take hold, but once it does it'll reach “high levels”.
He said: “(XEC) is just getting started now around the world and here. And that’s going to take many weeks, a couple months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave. XEC is definitely taking charge. ... That does appear to be the next variant. But it’s months off from getting into high levels.
“The XEC variant, a recombinant of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, is showing up in many countries with a growth advantage, and may turn out to be the next one we face.”
According to the UK government, cases of Covid dropped dramatically at the start of September, with just 47 recorded on September 4 – 165 less than just two days prior which saw 232 cases reported. The last death toll, recorded on August 23, showed 127 peopled died in the seven days prior, with 167, 200 and 197 having Covid on their death certificates in three previous weeks respectively.
No word has been given by the UK Health Security Agency on the new strain and its impact on current case levels, however.
The strain was first noticed in Germany, after a surge in cases was reported there, and now a top doctor has warned that the XEC strain will take hold and that it's 'just getting started'
By Adam Cailler
A new strain of Covid has been discovered sweeping through Europe, with doctors warning “it's jut getting started”.
According to reports in Germany, the new sub variant has been dubbed XEC and has already overtaken the previously dominant FliRT strain of the deadly virus. Covid cases worldwide surged over the summer thanks to the previous strain, but now doctors are sounding alarm bells about the new variant, after a rise in cases in Germany was spotted.
Posting on social media site Twitter/X, and speaking to the LA Times, Dr Eric Topol – the director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute – warned that it could take a while for it to take hold, but once it does it'll reach “high levels”.
He said: “(XEC) is just getting started now around the world and here. And that’s going to take many weeks, a couple months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave. XEC is definitely taking charge. ... That does appear to be the next variant. But it’s months off from getting into high levels.
“The XEC variant, a recombinant of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, is showing up in many countries with a growth advantage, and may turn out to be the next one we face.”
According to the UK government, cases of Covid dropped dramatically at the start of September, with just 47 recorded on September 4 – 165 less than just two days prior which saw 232 cases reported. The last death toll, recorded on August 23, showed 127 peopled died in the seven days prior, with 167, 200 and 197 having Covid on their death certificates in three previous weeks respectively.
No word has been given by the UK Health Security Agency on the new strain and its impact on current case levels, however.