By tf-lawyer.com On October 8th, Australian media outlet 9News reported that the Australian Department of Health has confirmed 23 cases of the XEC COVID-19 variant across the country as of September 23.
According to the report, the XEC variant was first detected in Berlin, Germany, in June and has since rapidly spread to 29 countries, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, the United States, and Canada. With winter approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, health officials are noting an uptick in cases of this variant. Epidemiologists indicate that XEC is an Omicron subvariant that results from a combination of the FLiRT and FLuQE variants and it has the potential to become the dominant strain globally.
James Trauer, an associate professor at Monash University, shared insights on the XEC variant’s strong adaptability, suggesting it could outpace currently circulating variants. He mentioned that the symptoms associated with XEC are similar to those of earlier variants and primarily include high fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue, resembling common cold or flu symptoms. However, Trauer emphasized that there isn’t enough current case data to predict if any new, more severe symptoms will emerge.
Fortunately, existing COVID-19 vaccines still show high efficacy against the XEC variant. Trauer recommends that high-risk individuals, especially those aged 75 and older, adhere to guidelines for receiving booster vaccinations every six months. The Australian Department of Health also urges anyone displaying symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 to get tested promptly. Those who test positive are advised to isolate for at least seven days or until their symptoms resolve and to avoid visiting vulnerable settings like nursing homes.
Local health authorities are calling on the public to stay vigilant, maintain good hygiene practices, and wear masks as necessary to help mitigate the risk of virus transmission.
