The new COVID variant XEC has been discovered by British health experts as they prepare for winter, when cases tend to rise.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has highlighted a slight increase in hospital admissions during this period COVID patients recently, with an admission rate of 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6, compared to 3.7 a week earlier.

It is the fourth weekly increase in a row – and this, combined with the finding of some XEC cases by the UKHSA – has led to a lot of reporting about the new variant.

It comes as a number of analysts on social media have tipped XEC to become the dominant strain and cause a winter wave – but is it a bigger threat than others?

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

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

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

What we know about XEC

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

The strain was first found in May, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which 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 to create a third strain , XEC.

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

In the UK, XEC was identified in 9.35% of COVID cases in samples taken 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 symptoms specific to XEC.

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
• a sore throat
• a stuffy or runny nose.

Health authorities recommend staying at 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 sounding the alarm about XEC, it does expect COVID to circulate more in winter, along with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)and called them the “three most important winter threats”.

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

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

Both vaccinations are also being offered to frontline health and social care staff, with workers in care homes for the elderly eligible for the COVID jab.

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

The shot is available for people aged 75 to 79 years and for pregnant women from 28 weeks to protect their child.