The new COVID variant XEC was discovered by British health experts as they prepare for the winter, when cases tend to increase.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has noted a slight increase in hospital admissions COVID The admission rate was 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week ending October 6, up from 3.7 the week before.

It is the fourth weekly rise in a row – and this, along with the UKHSA’s detection of some XEC cases, has led to extensive reporting on the new variant.

Several analysts on social media predict that XEC will become the dominant strain and trigger a winter wave – but does it pose a bigger threat than others?

The reality is that while the UKHSA is urging people to protect themselves from COVID generally, it has not “sounded the alarm” on XEC.

It acknowledged that people may be concerned about new variants, adding that around one in 10 new cases it has analyzed show an XEC lineage.

“The current information does not suggest that we should be more concerned about this variant, but we are monitoring this closely,” says Dr. Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA.

What we know about XEC

Like many other variants, XEC is part of the Omicron family.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it was first found in May and says it is a so-called recombinant of two other strains – KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 – meaning genetic information was exchanged between them, one to form third strain, XEC.

In its latest COVID update on October 9, the WHO said XEC was one of only two variants that showed “increasing prevalence worldwide” between August 19 and September 15 – but it was still only for KP responsible for a small percentage of cases. 3.3 are responsible for almost half of all cases worldwide.

In the UK, XEC was identified in 9.35% of COVID cases in samples collected by the UKHSA between September 2, 2024 and September 15, 2024, while 59.35% were identified as KP.3.3.

What are the symptoms of XEC?

No health organization has listed any XEC-specific symptoms.

It is said to have the same symptoms as other COVID variants, including:

• a high temperature
• a new, persistent cough
• a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• Headache
• Sore throat
• a stuffy or runny nose.

Health authorities recommend staying home and avoiding contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms.

How can you protect yourself?

Although the UKHSA is not specifically raising the alarm about Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)called them the “three biggest winter threats.”

If you’re eligible to get vaccinated against it, now is the time, says Dr. Bernal.

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All adults aged 65 and over can receive both the latest COVID booster shot and this year’s flu shot, as can residents of senior care homes and people with underlying health conditions aged six months to 64 years.

Both vaccinations will also be offered to frontline health and social care staff, with staff in aged care homes also being eligible for the COVID vaccination.

The NHS is also offering, for the first time, a vaccination against RSV, a common cause of coughs and colds that can be dangerous for older people and young children.

The vaccination is available to people aged 75 to 79 and pregnant women from 28 weeks to protect their children.