Learn More about COVID Variant XEC and How to Prevent It

It’s been almost exactly five years since the Covid-19 pandemic started wreaking havoc on the world as we know it. It seems unthinkable that it’s only been that long, as it’s now hard to imagine what life was like in the pre-pandemic era.

While things are certainly not as bad as they were at the height of the pandemic and health officials the world over have largely figured out how to contain the virus, the fact remains that we’re still dealing with the long-term effects of the virus that changed the world forever.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen multiple variants of the Covid-19 virus, and once again, a new version of the virus is once again making headlines.

Dubbed the Covid XEC variant, this latest mutation of the virus isn’t expected to cause global chaos as the original form did, but it’s still important to know the symptoms and how to prevent catching or spreading the virus.

What is the Covid XEC Variant?

The Covid XEC variant is simply the latest version of the virus. As researchers continue to work on prevention and cures, the virus continues to evolve and mutate, as all viruses do. It’s important to note that there’s not as much widespread panic about this variant as there was with the original virus. However, awareness is key when dealing with any sort of airborne virus.

Viruses mutate when they undergo genetic changes that affect how the virus spreads and the severity of the illness that it causes. In the same way that there are multiple strains of influenza that become prevalent every year, we’ve long known that the Covid-19 virus would mutate. XEC is simply the latest version of that.

Calling the XEC variant “new” is a bit of a misnomer. The first case of this mutated form of the virus was detected in June in a patient in Germany. In the weeks and months that followed, there were some isolated cases across the UK, but now, scientists have announced that this may become the most common form of the virus.

In late December 2022, the omicron family, the broader term that the CDC used to describe the virus and its mutations, became the predominant form of the virus. The XEC virus is a descendant of the KS.1.1 and KS.3.3 versions of the virus, both of which were members of the omicron family.

Symptoms of the Covid XEC Variant

As is the case with any type of Covid variant, it’s important to recognize the symptoms as early as possible. While much research is still being done on these latest versions, it’s virtually impossible for scientists to keep up with every detail.

However, as of right now, it is believed that the XEC variant is more contagious than its closest predecessors, but for the most part, it is not as life-threatening. Even with this in mind, it’s important for those with comorbidities, the elderly, and infants to be protected as much as possible.

Many of the symptoms of the Covid XEC variant mirror those of its earliest forms. For instance, the patients, most of whom are in Europe, report that their bout with the XEC variant started with a sore throat and a cough.

This is especially troublesome in the United States, where much of the country is getting into fall, where leaves are falling and the season is changing, and seasonal allergies are common. This leads to many people having the earliest symptoms of Covid’s XEC variant without realizing it.

Another common symptom is a fever. At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, fevers were the most common sign that something was wrong.

Shortly after the virus was labeled a global health crisis and eventually a pandemic, government leaders encouraged patients whose temperatures reached 101 degrees Fahrenheit to get swabbed for the virus.

As the virus has mutated, it has largely weakened, resulting in less pronounced symptoms. Virtually every patient who has tested positive for the XEC variant has reported a temperature. Unlike some of the more recent variants of the virus, these fevers have eclipsed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Body aches and general fatigue are also symptoms of the XEC variant, further mirroring the earlier versions of the virus.

This is another symptom that experts are encouraging people to be mindful of, as the cooling temperatures that most of the US is experiencing can lead to increased inflammation and arthritis-related pain. Similar to the sore throat and cough that comes with the virus, this symptom is easy to overlook.

Tips for Preventing the Covid XEC Variant

Most of us remember what life was like at the dawn of what’s now known as the pandemic era. Stay-at-home orders were in place, only essential businesses were allowed to operate, and they were forced to completely change their policies and procedures.

You probably saw people standing at the door of your local grocery store counting people who came in to keep the number below the government-mandated capacity.

Ideally, we will never again return to that level of prevention. However, it’s still important for everyone to do their part to minimize the spread as much as possible.

First, immunization is paramount. If you have not been vaccinated, or your vaccinations are outdated, global health officials encourage you to get your vaccinations up to date. It’s also a good idea to get your booster shot if you haven’t done so yet.

If you have symptoms of the Covid XEC variant, get tested as soon as possible. One of the few good things that came from the widespread chaos of the early pandemic era was the availability of at-home tests.

Many insurance companies provide patients with a monthly allotment of tests, but even if yours doesn’t, you can usually get tests at your local pharmacy. Having some on hand is a great idea.

Finally, if you test positive, try to cut down on your interactions with others, especially those who are at a greater risk of contracting the virus.

We are likely beyond the point of people being ordered to quarantine for two weeks if they test positive for the virus.

The Latest in a Long Line of Mutations

By all accounts, it looks like we’ll be dealing with different variants of the same virus that sent the world into a tailspin for the foreseeable future and probably beyond. It’s entirely plausible that we will never again know a world without this virus.

While immunizations and symptom management can certainly cut down on the spread, global health officials largely agree that some form of the airborne virus will always be in play.

As has been the case since the first time we saw this virus, awareness is key. If you are displaying some or all of the symptoms that we’ve discussed, get tested as soon as possible.

While there’s no way to treat a virus in the same way that you can treat a bacterial infection, managing the symptoms is key. Should the symptoms become too much to manage at home, seek professional medical help as soon as possible.

Covid is a part of our world, but it doesn’t have to be the terrifying figure that it was only a few years ago.