New COVID variant may dominate this winter season - Experts warns
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The new strain of the coronavirus, XEC, is spreading quickly across Europe, and experts predict it will become the dominant variant this winter, according to Manchester Evening News.
The main symptom of the infection
British doctor Helen Wall explained that anyone infected with this variant should be prepared to feel "devastated." The first symptom is severe fatigue.
"We could well be seeing the new Covid variant in practice. At the moment, it seems to be a bit more flu-like than previous iterations of Covid, with a high temperature, a cough, aching body, headache," the doctor stated.
"Some of the symptoms in the past were more cough and cold symptoms, but at the moment, Covid does seem to be wiping people out," she added.
XEC is a recombinant variant that arises when two existing strains combine; this can happen if a person is infected with both strains simultaneously.
XEC is formed from KP.3.3 and KS.1.1, which are genetically related to the Omicron variant. This variant was first identified in South Africa in 2021 and is known for its high transmission rate and lower severity compared to previous strains of SARS-CoV-2.
Who should get vaccinated:
- Pregnant women
- People over 60 years old
- Adults and children with weakened immune systems or underlying severe chronic diseases
- Adults and children at risk of severe illness and death from coronavirus infection
- Members of professional risk groups (e.g., doctors, teachers, military personnel, etc.)
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
