What is the new Covid XEC variant?

September 17, 2024 - People have started catching a potentially more contagious Covid variant, dubbed XEC, that could soon become the dominant strain, according to scientists.

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Identified in Germany, in June, cases of the XEC variant have since emerged in the UK, U.S., Denmark and several other countries.

It has some new mutations that might help it spread this autumn, although vaccines should still help prevent severe cases, experts say.