New Covid XEC variant in Australia explained

The XEC strain has been detected in 29 countries, with scientists saying it could become the dominant Covid variant. Here’s everything you need to know.

A new Covid variant that scientists say could become the dominant type has been detected in Australia.

According to global health data platform GISAID, the XEC strain has been reported in 29 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Spain and China.

This Covid variant has some new mutations that might help it spread quickly through Australia this summer, leading to increased cases.

While vaccines have been updated to better match recent variants, they have not been updated for XEC.

Here’s everything we know about this new Covid strain.

WHAT IS XEC?

XEC is a recombinant, emerging from earlier Omicron subvariants, KS 1.1 and KP 3.3.

According to the BBC, the variant was first identified in Germany in June and even though it has a “slight transmission advantage”, vaccinations will still help.

Last month, the World Health Organisation classified XEC as a variant in order to investigate whether its impact on global public health.

XEC has some new mutations that might help it spread quickly through Australia this summer, leading to increased cases. Picture: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases / AFP

The National Notifiable Disease Surveillance Dashboard has recorded over 12 million Covid cases in Australia since the pandemic started.

According to the Department of Health, there are 23 known Covid cases with the XEC variant.

University of Queensland infectious diseases physician Paul Griffin told the ABC the XEC strain makes up about “5 to 10 per cent” of COVID-19 cases in Australia.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Like previous strains, symptoms are the same as a cold or flu and can be transmitted by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms include:

- a high temperature or fever

- aches

- tiredness

- a cough or sore throat

- shortness of breath

- fatigue

Most people feel better within a few weeks of Covid but it can take longer to recover for those who are older, pregnant or have underlying health conditions.

HOW TO TREAT XEC

Vaccinations, wearing a mask and practising good hygiene are the best ways to prevent infection.

While isolation is no longer a legal requirement if you test positive for Covid, staying at home protects the people in your community.

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, if you test positive, you should not visit high-risk settings like hospitals and aged and disability care settings for at least seven days or until symptoms have gone or unless seeking immediate medical care.

Experts both in Australia and abroad have said that virus changes can mean vaccinations are slightly less effective.

Dr Griffin told the ABC an updated JN.1 COVID-19 vaccination under review by the Theraputic Goods Administration will provide “good levels of coverage against the new strain because it’s a closely related sub-variant.”