The coronavirus has not stopped producing new strains; the latest in the world has found a way to evade your immune system.
The new variant, called XEC, was first discovered in Germany and has already started to spread in Europe and the United States.
How do coronavirus variants arise?
Since its appearance in 2019, the coronavirus has gone through a large number of mutations, where each mutation can change how the virus affects the body and the ability to vaccinate against it.
The XEC strain was discovered this year. Like previous variants, it likely evolved as a result of random changes in the virus’s genetic code as it replicated within the human host.
Mutations are a natural phenomenon in the world of virology. However, each new variant raises possible concerns due to changes in the ability of the virus to avoid the immune system or overcome the protections provided by vaccines.
What is the XEC variant of the coronavirus?
XEC is considered a “variant of interest,” a category defined by the World Health Organization for variants that appear to have important clinical effects in humans.
It has shown a high ability to penetrate the cells of the body, similar to previous variants of the coronavirus. Preliminary studies indicate that it binds to lung cell receptors particularly effectively, possibly leading to rapid infection. It also seems that XEC manages to avoid some of the antibodies created as a result of vaccinations or previous infections, giving it an advantage in the interaction with the host’s immune system.
In the new strain, another change was made to the spike protein of the variant, allowing it to avoid some of the protections created by previous vaccines. However, it is not clear how strong this effect will be or whether changes to existing vaccines will be needed to effectively combat it.
What are the symptoms of the XEC version of the coronavirus?
The symptoms of the XEC variant are generally similar to the previous ones, but there are reports of minor changes in the clinical picture.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Hacking cough
- sore throat
- Fatigue
- muscle pain
- Headache
In some patients, especially those with weakened immune systems, more severe symptoms may occur, including difficulty breathing. Initial reports also show that some patients experience a loss of smell and taste, but at lower levels than usual with previous variations.
Does the coronavirus vaccine work against the XEC variant?
As with any new strain, the question arises as to whether existing vaccines are effective against it. Preliminary studies indicate that existing vaccines against XEC still have some degree of protection, particularly in preventing serious illness and hospitalization.
However, the mutations found in this variant in the spike protein could reduce the full protective effectiveness of the vaccines, especially in preventing primary infections.
Vaccine makers have already started to study the effect of the variant on antibodies created as a result of current vaccines, and it is expected that if it turns out that the XEC variant can avoid the vaccine until large, that new vaccines will be adapted to protect against it.
Where did the XEC variant of the coronavirus spread?
The XEC variant has been found in several countries around the world, with countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, India and Brazil reporting an increase in the number of reported cases. Europe is currently experiencing a large wave of infections, with XEC considered to be one of the main reasons for this.
2024-09-29 14:40:24
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