The winter illness season is almost here – and more people already need hospital treatment after catching Covid.
Now experts have warned that a new Covid-19 variant is emerging after a rise in hospitalisations due to infections.
The new variant making headlines is the XEC strain which has seen a worldwide surge in cases.
It comes after figures from the UK Health Security Agency show the admission rate for patients testing positive stood at 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6 – up from 3.7 a week earlier.
That was the fourth weekly rise in a row.
The UKHSA has said there is no information currently to suggest we should be more worried about XEC – but they are keeping a close eye on it.
Here is what you need to know about the XEC variant ahead of the winter bug season.
The pesky new Covid variant XEC has been around for a few months after it was first spotted in Germany in June.
Cases have since emerged in at least 29 countries, including the UK, US and Denmark.
It is spreading ‘quite rapidly’ across Europe, North America and Asia, Covid data analyst Mike Honey warned.
XEC is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants.
Researchers have predicted it could take anywhere from a matter of weeks to several months to become the dominant strain.
The XEC strain presents similar cold and flu-like symptoms to previous variants.
They include:
- a high temperature
- aches
- tiredness
- a cough or sore throat
As with Covid generally, most people tend to feel better within a few weeks, but others can take longer.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Deputy Director, said: ‘It is normal and expected for viruses to genetically change over time. UKHSA continues to monitor all available information relating to emerging Covid variants in the UK and internationally, and to publish our data regularly.
‘Vaccination provides the best protection against serious illness from Covid-19, and we urge those who are contacted by the NHS to come forward to receive their autumn vaccine.’
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, said: ‘We understand people may be concerned about new variants.
‘Our surveillance shows that where Covid cases are sequenced, around one in 10 are the “XEC” lineage.
‘Current information doesn’t suggest we should be more concerned about this variant, but we are monitoring this closely.
‘The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you’re eligible.’
And some age groups and healthcare workers in the UK can get a Covid booster vaccination for free.
All adults aged 65 and over can get both the latest Covid-19 booster vaccination and this year’s flu jab, along with residents in older adult care homes and people with underlying health conditions aged six months to 64 years.
Both vaccinations are also being offered to frontline health and social care staff, with employees in older adult care homes eligible for the Covid-19 jab.
Dr Lopez Bernal said: ‘Covid-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks.
‘As winter approaches, we expect flu and RSV to increasingly circulate too, so if you’re eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats – Covid-19, flu and RSV – now is the time to take them up and get winter strong.’
The hospital admission rate in England for people with flu stood at 0.6 per 100,000 in the most recent week, compared with 0.1 this time last year.
Flu admissions last winter peaked at 7.5 per 100,000 people in late January.
The NHS is also offering for the first time a vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of coughs and colds, which can be dangerous to older people and young children.
The jab is available to people aged 75 to 79 as well as pregnant women from 28 weeks, to protect their child.
Dr Conall Watson, of the UKHSA, said: ‘We are starting to see the expected seasonal rise in RSV, a common lung virus which can cause pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis.
‘RSV lung infections like bronchiolitis are a major cause of babies needing to visit A&E or be admitted to hospital each winter.
‘The RSV vaccine for pregnant mums is an important step in keeping babies well through winter.
‘If your baby has a cold that is getting worse, or it is causing unusual breathing or problems feeding, call NHS 111 or contact your GP practice. As a parent trust your judgement and if your baby seems seriously unwell go to A&E or call 999.’
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