Emerging Challenges: Understanding the XEC Variant in the Covid-19 Landscape

2024-09-19 14:54:17

September 19, 2024

Presented by some experts as the next dominant variant of Covid-19, will XEC be at the origin of a new wave in the coming months?

XEC was first identified in Germany in June 2024. According to Eric Topol, director of the Scripps research translational institute in California (United States), a biomedical research center, this new variant of Covid-19 is ” a hybrid of the KS.1.1 and KP.3 variants.3”, old sub-variants of BA.2. 86, itself descended from Omicron.

XEC has gained a lot of ground since the beginning of the summer and could soon become the new dominant sub-variant in place of KP.3.1.1, the last hyper-infectious variant, currently dominant in Europe and the United States. According to Mike Honey, a data scientist specializing in Covid, XEC has increased in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France and the United States. According to the specialist, it is currently found in 27 countries on three continents.

Recombinant variant XEC is continuing to spread, and looks a likely next challenger against the now-dominant DeFLuQE variants (KP.3.1.1.*).

Here are the leading countries reporting XEC. Strong growth in Denmark and Germany (16-17%), also the UK and Netherlands (11-13%).
🧵 pic.twitter.com/rLReeM9wF8

— Mike Honey (@Mike_Honey_) September 15, 2024

Contacted by Destination Santé, the ECDC, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, points out that to date, a very limited number of XEC detections have been reported in Europe. And no data currently allows for a direct assessment of immune evasion, transmissibility, severity or vaccine efficacy against severe forms of Covid-19 compared to other descendant lines of BA.2.86. Based on the data currently available, including its mutations, the European health authority estimates that XEC should have similar characteristics to its cousins ​​currently in circulation; no more, no less serious, and with an equivalent level of vaccine efficacy.

ECDC believes that it is currently too early to know whether XEC will continue to increase. And, at this stage, there is no evidence that XEC is influencing the prevalence of COVID-19 in countries where it has been reported.

Several months before the next wave?

For his part, Dr Eric Topol estimated to Euronews that “XEC is just getting started worldwide”. “It’s going to take several weeks, a few months before it really settles in and starts to cause a wave,” he continues. “XEC is definitely taking things in hand. (…) But it will take months before reaching high levels.”

The fact that vaccines have been updated for recent variants could help XEC, descended from older sub-variants, become dominant. Thus, according to Professor François Balloux, director of the Institute of Genetics of theUniversity College Londonquestioned by the BBC, XEC would have “a slight transmission advantage”compared to other variants. But vaccines should still remain effective.

As a reminder, the different variants and sub-variants of Sars-Cov-2 are classified by group: VOC for variant of concern, VOI for variant to follow and VUM for “variant under surveillance”. XEC does not appear at this stage in any of these categories. However, the ECDC assures that the situation remains, in any case, under surveillance.

Vaccination remains the best protection. “Even in the absence of new variants, a reduction in the protection conferred by vaccination or by a previous infection as well as sustained circulation of the virus could lead to a resurgence of severe forms, particularly in vulnerable people. Measures to prevent respiratory viruses therefore remain relevant, in particular the vaccination strategy in view of the evolution of the circulation of variants”, underlines Public Health France.

Source: ECDC, BBC, Euronews, Santé public France, Twitter accounts of Eric Topol and Mike Honey

Written by: Dorothée Duchemin – Edited by Hélène Joubert

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#Covid19 #worried #XEC #variant #Headlines

What are the characteristics of the ⁢XEC variant compared to⁤ previous Covid-19 variants?⁤ ⁢

Will XEC be ​the Next Dominant⁤ Covid-19 Variant, Triggering a​ New Wave in⁣ the ​Coming Months?

As the world continues⁢ to ⁤grapple with the‌ ongoing⁢ Covid-19 pandemic, a new variant has emerged, raising concerns among experts and ⁢health authorities. XEC, ​first identified⁢ in Germany ⁣in June 2024, ‍has been gaining ground rapidly, sparking fears ‌that it ‌could become the next dominant variant, potentially ⁤triggering a⁤ new wave of ‌infections in the coming months.

What is XEC, ‍and how does​ it​ differ from⁣ other Covid-19 variants?

According to Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research‍ Translational Institute in California, XEC is ​a hybrid​ of the KS.1.1⁣ and KP.3 variants, both​ of ⁢which are ‍old sub-variants of BA.2.86, itself a descendant of ⁤Omicron. This ‍new variant⁣ has⁣ already spread to⁢ 27 ⁣countries ‍across three continents, with ⁢significant growth reported ‍in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom,‌ France, and ​the United ​States.

Experts Weigh In on ⁣the ⁣Potential ⁣Impact of XEC

Data scientist Mike Honey, who ​specializes in⁣ Covid-19, ​has been tracking the spread of XEC and notes ‍that it‍ has increased rapidly in‍ several countries. While the⁢ European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has stated that XEC is ​not currently ‌considered a ​variant of concern, Dr. Topol estimates ‌that it⁢ will‌ take several weeks⁣ to a few months for XEC to really take hold and start causing a‌ wave of infections.

Professor ​François Balloux, director of the Institute ⁢of Genetics at University College London, suggests that XEC may⁤ have a slight transmission advantage compared to other variants, ‌which could help it ‌become dominant.​ However, vaccines​ are still expected to remain ⁣effective against XEC.

What Does This Mean ‌for‍ Public Health Strategies?

While XEC has not been classified as a variant of concern, the ⁢ECDC is closely monitoring⁢ the situation, and vaccination remains the ‍best protection against Covid-19. Public Health France‌ emphasizes that ⁤measures to prevent respiratory viruses, including vaccination,​ are still relevant, especially in light of the evolution of variant circulation.

The Importance of Vigilance and Preparedness

As the world continues to navigate ‌the ⁤Covid-19 pandemic, it is essential to remain vigilant and prepared for the emergence of‌ new variants ⁤like⁢ XEC. While it is too‍ early to ⁤predict the full ‌impact of XEC, experts agree that⁢ it has the potential to‍ become a ⁤dominant variant, potentially triggering a new wave of infections.

Key Takeaways

⁤XEC is ‌a‍ new Covid-19 variant that has ⁤been⁤ gaining ground rapidly since ⁤its identification⁤ in Germany⁢ in June ⁤2024.

Experts believe that XEC could become the⁢ next dominant variant, potentially triggering ​a new wave of infections in the coming months.

Vaccination remains‍ the best protection against Covid-19, and measures to⁤ prevent respiratory viruses are still relevant.

Health ⁣authorities are closely⁣ monitoring ‌the situation, and the public should remain vigilant and‍ prepared for the ⁣emergence of new ⁢variants.

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What makes the XEC variant of Covid-19 different from previous variants like BA.2.86 and KP.3?

Will XEC Be the Next Dominant Variant of Covid-19?

September 19, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against Covid-19, as health experts and researchers worldwide are closely monitoring the emergence of a new variant, XEC. Identified initially in Germany in June 2024, XEC is gaining ground rapidly and has already been detected in 27 countries across three continents.

Presented by Some Experts as the Next Dominant Variant of Covid-19

XEC is a hybrid of the KS.1.1 and KP.3 variants, making it a descendant of BA.2.86, which is itself an offshoot of Omicron. According to Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, XEC has the potential to become the next dominant sub-variant, replacing KP.3.1.1, the current dominant variant in Europe and the United States.

Several Months Before the Next Wave?

While the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) notes that XEC detections are still limited in Europe, experts like Dr. Eric Topol believe that it’s only a matter of time before XEC starts to cause a wave. “XEC is just getting started worldwide,” Dr. Topol told Euronews. “It’s going to take several weeks, a few months before it really settles in and starts to cause a wave.”

What Are the Characteristics of the XEC Variant Compared to Previous Covid-19 Variants?

The ECDC suggests that XEC should have similar characteristics to its cousins currently in circulation, including its mutations, transmissibility, severity, and vaccine efficacy against severe forms of Covid-19. However, the fact that vaccines have been updated for recent variants could help XEC become dominant.

Professor François Balloux