Throughout the last couple of months, the new Covid XEC has spread rapidly across the UK, leading to heightened alarm as the nation grapples with a rise in infections.
Experts are concerned with the number of cases and the rapid growth of XEC, as they begin discussing what measures should be taken and how the risks of the variant can’t be mitigated, reports the Surrey Live.
In an interview with The i, Leeds University Professor Steve Griffin highlighted the dangers of XEC and how cases can be reduced.
He suggested: “We can either increase our immunity by making better vaccines or increasing our vaccine coverage, or we can slow the virus down with interventions, such as improving indoor air quality. But we’re not doing those things.”
Professor Griffin explained that although Covid-19 is less worrying now than it was at the height of the pandemic, it still presents significant challenges.
He highlights the evolution of the virus, persistent difficulty, stating: “The problem with Covid is that it evolves so quickly.
“It’s evolutionary rate is something like three or four times faster than that of the fastest seasonal flu. So you’ve got this constant change in the virus, which accelerates the number of susceptible people.
“It’s creating its own new pool of susceptibles every time it changes to something that’s ‘immune evasive’. Every one of these subvariants is distinct enough that a whole swathe of people are no longer immune to it and it can infect them.=
“That’s why you see this constant undulatory pattern which doesn’t look seasonal at all.”
Research from the University of Southern California have found out the exact progression of symptoms and time line of people suffering with XEC. Starting with a fever, this is followed by a cough, sore throat, muscle pain or headaches, nausea or vomiting and finally diarrhoea.
The lead author of the study, Joseph Larson remarked: “Knowing that each illness progresses differently means that doctors can identify sooner whether someone likely has COVID-19, or another illness, which can help them make better treatment decisions.”
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