NHS issues key advice as new Covid strain XEC spreads across UK
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe NHS has made an appeal to the British public to combat the spread of Covid as experts warn that a new highly transmissible variant is likely to become the predominant strain.
The XEC variant, with its origins traceable to Germany, is feared to potentially cause a surge in winter cases. Already present in 27 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, the global case count exceeds 600, including 82 confirmed instances within the UK.
According to scientists, the XEC variant possesses mutations that may facilitate its dissemination this autumn. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, expressed concerns to the LA Times about the emergent strain: "XEC is just getting started. READ MORE: What it's really like to have Covid right now as 'distinctive' XEC variant symptoms spread "And that's going to take many weeks, a couple of months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave.
XEC is definitely taking charge. That does appear to be the next variant. But it's months off from getting into high levels." Despite the alarm over the new variant, there's a silver lining: current vaccines are expected to retain effectiveness against severe illness.
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