It is thought the XEC strain is more transmissible due to its numerous mutations, and presents symptoms similar to those of other Covid variants including tiredness, headaches, a sore throat and high temperatures.

XEC is on track to become the new dominant COVID-19 strain this winter. Yale and New Haven experts weigh in on why you should still get the new vaccine even though it may be less effective at neutralization because it is a recombinant variant.

While the UKHSA isn’t specifically alarmed by XEC, they expect COVID to circulate more in winter, along with flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which they call the “three main winter threats.” Dr Bernal advises eligible individuals to get vaccinated against these illnesses.

Covid hospitalisations have surged across Britain at an “alarming” rate as a new variant of the virus emerged, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned. UKHSA figures showed the admission rate for patients testing positive for Covid XEC stood at 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6 – up from 3.7 a week earlier.

The new Covid XEC variant is spreading across the UK, with symptoms that can be easily confused with flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - but doctors say there is a specific order to look out f

A new study has identified the key order of Covid-19 symptoms, which is crucial in distinguishing it from the flu and other respiratory illnesses

The KP.3.1.1 variant, part of the Omicron family, has been the strain dominating the country and was the only major variant increasing in proportion nationally in August. The Nowcast data tracker, which displays COVID-19 estimates and projections for two-week periods,

Cases of COVID-19 have dipped slightly in the U.S. after a large summer wave, but doctors expect another spike on the horizon, as temperatures drop and people head indoors. Now, t