The current Covid-19 wave in the US is showing signs of slowing, but the emergence of a new Covid variant known as XEC is causing concern among health authorities, especially with the onset of colder weather. XEC is a recombinant strain derived from two closely related variants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, both of which are descendants of the JN.1 strain. This new variant may spread more efficiently than previous strains and has the potential to become widespread in the US. Despite hopes of Covid-19 declining, the emergence of new variants is a persistent challenge.

Here are 6 key points to understand about the new Covid variant XEC:

1. Increased Infectivity: Experts believe that the XEC variant is more infectious due to several additional mutations, making it important to maintain social distancing and proper hygiene practices to prevent infections.

2. Global Spread: While originating in Germany, the XEC variant is rapidly spreading in countries like the US, UK, and China, with detections in 27 countries including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, and Portugal. There have been 23 cases reported in the US, including three in California.

3. Mild Symptoms: Symptoms of XEC are similar to the Omicron variant and are generally mild, including fever, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, and other common Covid-19 symptoms.

4. Vaccine Effectiveness: The current Covid-19 vaccines were developed based on the KP.2 strain of the virus. However, the virus is evolving quickly, raising questions about the effectiveness of the latest vaccines, although they are likely still protective against severe disease and hospitalization.

5. Potential Dominance in Winter: Experts warn that XEC could become the dominant variant during the winter months."The variant that is most likely to become dominant and spread rapidly in the coming months, according to Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, is X. Experts predict that this variant will have a greater impact moving forward. Additionally, more information is available regarding the recombinantXEC variant, which is a combination of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 strains. Both KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 are derived from the JN.1 strain. KS.1.1 is part of the FLiRT variants contributing to increasing case numbers in multiple countries, while KP.3.3 is an FLuQE variant with a spike protein mutation that enhances its ability to bind to human cells. To prevent Covid infection, it is essential to adhere to basic measures such as avoiding crowds, maintaining physical distance, practicing frequent handwashing, wearing masks in crowded areas, and supporting immune health through a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and protein."