Covid-19. New subvariant of XEC coronavirus in Poland? Expert: it may be felt this winter

The new subvariant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is one of the Omicron variants, which has been dominant for a long time and manifests itself in the form of subsequent subvariants. Currently, the most common of them in many countries is KP.3.1.1., but it is expected that in a few weeks or months it will be dominated by a newer one – designated as XEC.

“The new subvariant is spreading quite quickly and looks like a potential next competitor to the currently dominant KP.3.1.1. subvariants, possibly competing with XEC,” says Mike Honey from Melbourne on X platform in AustraliaCovid-19 data analyst.

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Experts indicate that the new variant may spread rapidly in the near future. – According to epidemiologists, XEC is a “worthy” successor to KP.3.1.1, it will compete with it and perhaps it will be felt this winter – indicates in an interview with the tvn24.pl portal prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska from the Department of Virology and Immunology at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.

The director of the Scripps Research Translation Institute, Prof. Eric Topol, agrees. “XEC currently seems to be the most likely successor,” he said on the X platform. In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, he predicts that the new subvariant will become dominant in a few weeks, or at most a few months.

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XEC was first detected in late June in Maharashtra state India. In the same month it also appeared in Europe – in Germanyand then in Denmark and the UK. The British Independent reported on Wednesday that XEC has been detected in more than 500 samples taken in 27 countries, including NorwayLuxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, China and – in Poland. However, this information is not confirmed by prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska.

– According to my information, the XEC subvariant has not yet appeared in Poland – she tells tvn24.pl. – However, it is a fact that in Poland genotyping (research to detect virus types – ed.) is carried out on a very small scale. This may explain why XEC has not been detected so far – adds Prof. Szuster-Ciesielska.

We contacted the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate to ask for a response to media reports about the detection of XEC in Poland. By the time of this article's publication, we had not received a response.

Symptoms are similar to those of previous variants. They may include fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and nausea. Importantly, XEC is not targeted by the currently introduced USA and European Union vaccines against Covid-19. They are designed to protect against the previously dominant Omicron subvariants, such as JN.1 and its offshoots – KP.2, KP.3.3 and KP.3.1.1.

Prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska assures, however, that currently available vaccines also protect against severe Covid-19 in the case of the new subvariant. – Our immunity to SARS-CoV-2, whether post-vaccination or post-infection, lasts about six months. The subvariants that are currently appearing are their successors; all this is contained in Omicron, so we can talk about the development of cross-immunity: if someone has had KP.3.1.1, they will certainly be protected against XEC to some extent. Post-vaccination protection can also be cross-protective – explains the virologist in an interview with tvn24.pl. And he emphasizes that older people should still get vaccinated.

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