The current surge of Covid-19 in the US is showing signs of slowing down, but the emergence of a new Covid variant XEC has raised concerns among health authorities as colder weather approaches. XEC is a recombinant strain derived from two closely related variants - KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 - both descendants of the JN.1 strain. This new variant is expected to spread more efficiently due to additional mutations. As new variants continue to emerge, Covid-19 remains a prevalent threat. Here are six important points to understand about the XEC variant:

1. Increased Infectivity: Experts believe that the XEC variant is more infectious than previous strains due to multiple mutations. It is crucial to adhere to social distancing and hygiene practices to lower the risk of transmission.

2. Global Spread: Originating in Germany, the XEC variant is rapidly spreading in countries such as the US, UK, China, and has been identified in 27 countries including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, and Portugal. There are currently 23 confirmed cases in the US, three of which are in California.

3. Mild Symptoms: Symptoms associated with the XEC variant are similar to Omicron and generally remain mild, including fever, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, and other common signs of infection.

4. Vaccine Efficacy: The latest Covid-19 vaccine is based on the KP.2 strain, but the rapid evolution of the virus poses challenges for vaccine effectiveness. While the efficacy against XEC remains uncertain, the vaccine can still offer protection against severe illness and hospitalization.

5. Potential Dominance: There is a possibility that the XEC variant may become the dominant strain during the winter months."The variant deemed most likely to become dominant soon," stated Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, in a post on X. Experts predict that this variant will become more widespread and prevalent in the upcoming months.

Further details about the recombinantXEC variants can be found as follows: XEC is a merging of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. Both of these variants are offspring of the JN.1 strain. KS.1.1 is categorized as one of the FLiRT variants responsible for contributing to rising case numbers in several countries. Meanwhile, KP.3.3 is a FLuQE variant, with a mutation in the spike protein that enhances its binding capabilities to human cells by changing the amino acid glutamine (Q) to glutamic acid (E).

In terms of preventing Covid infections, adhering to fundamental precautions is crucial. Maintaining social distance, avoiding crowded places, washing hands regularly, and wearing masks in crowded settings are essential. Additionally, boosting immunity through a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and protein is important.

Tragically, seven individuals were killed in Eastern Ukraine due to Russian shelling, with both countries intercepting multiple missiles and drones.