The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

XEC is now in Australia. Here’s what we know about this hybrid COVID variant

  • Written by Lara Herrero, Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University

Over the nearly five years since COVID first emerged, you’d be forgiven if you’ve lost track of the number of new variants we’ve seen. Some have had a bigger impact than others, but virologists have documented[1] thousands.

The latest variant to make headlines is called XEC[2]. This omicron subvariant has been reported predominantly in the northern hemisphere, but it has now been detected in Australia[3] too.

So what do we know about XEC?

Is COVID still a thing?

People are now testing for COVID less and reporting it less. Enthusiasm to track the virus[4] is generally waning.

Nonetheless, Australia is still collecting and reporting COVID data[5]. Although the number of cases is likely to be much higher than the number documented (around 275,000 so far this year[6]), we can still get some idea of when we’re seeing significant waves, compared to periods of lower activity.

Australia saw its last COVID peak in June 2024[7]. Since then cases have been on the decline.

But SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, is definitely still around.

Which variants are circulating now?

The main COVID variants[8] circulating currently around the world include BA.2.86, JN.1, KP.2, KP.3 and XEC. These are all descendants of omicron.

The XEC variant was first detected in Italy[9] in May 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated it as a variant “under monitoring[10]” in September.

Since its detection, XEC has spread[11] to more than 27 countries across Europe, North America and Asia. As of mid-September, the highest numbers of cases have been identified in countries including the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Denmark.

XEC is currently making up around 20% of cases in Germany[12], 12% in the UK[13] and around 6% in the US[14].

A woman wearing a mask in a supermarket.
The virus behind COVID continues to evolve. Photo by Centre for Ageing Better/Pexels[15]

Although XEC remains a minority variant globally, it appears to have a growth advantage over other circulating variants. We don’t know why yet, but reports suggest it may be able to spread more easily[16] than other variants.

For this reason, it’s predicted XEC could become the dominant variant[17] worldwide in the coming months.

How about in Australia?

The most recent Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report[18] noted there has been an increasing proportion of XEC sequenced recently.

In Australia, 329 SARS-CoV-2 sequences collected from August 26 to September 22 have been uploaded to AusTrakka[19], Australia’s national genomics surveillance platform for COVID.

The majority of sequences[20] (301 out of 329, or 91.5%) were sub-lineages of JN.1, including KP.2 (17 out of 301) and KP.3 (236 out of 301). The remaining 8.5% (28 out of 329) were recombinants consisting of one or more omicron sub-lineages, including XEC.

Estimates based on data from GISAID, an international repository of viral sequences, suggests XEC is making up around 5% of cases[21] in Australia, or 16 of 314 samples sequenced.

Queensland reported the highest rates in the past 30 days (8%, or eight of 96 sequences), followed by South Australia (5%, or five out of 93), Victoria (5%, or one of 20) and New South Wales (3%, or two of 71). WA recorded zero sequences out of 34. No data were available for other states and territories.

What do we know about XEC? What is a recombinant?

The XEC variant is believed to be a recombinant descendant of two previously identified omicron subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. Recombinant variants form when two different variants[22] infect a host at the same time, which allows the viruses to switch genetic information. This leads to the emergence of a new variant with characteristics from both “parent” lineages.

KS.1.1 is one of the group commonly known as “FLiRT[23]variants[24], while, KP.3.3 is one of the “FLuQE[25]” variants. Both of these variant groups have contributed to recent surges in COVID infections[26] around the world.

The WHO’s naming conventions[27] for new COVID variants often use a combination of letters to denote new variants, particularly those that arise from recombination events among existing lineages. The “X” typically indicates a recombinant variant[28] (as with XBB, for example), while the letters following it identify specific lineages.

We know very little so far about XEC’s characteristics specifically, and how it differs from other variants. But there’s no evidence to suggest symptoms will be more severe than with earlier versions of the virus.

What we do know is what mutations this variant has. In the S gene that encodes for the spike protein we can find a T22N mutation (inherited from KS.1.1) as well as Q493E (from KP.3.3) and other mutations[29] known to the omicron lineage[30].

Will vaccines still work well against XEC?

The most recent surveillance data[31] doesn’t show any significant increase in COVID hospitalisations. This suggests the current vaccines still provide effective protection against severe outcomes from circulating variants.

As the virus continues to mutate, vaccine companies will continue to update their vaccines[32]. Both Pfizer and Moderna have updated vaccines to target the JN.1 variant, which is a parent strain of the FLiRT variants and therefore should protect against XEC.

However, Australia is still waiting[33] to hear which vaccines may become available to the public and when.

In the meantime, omicron-based vaccines such as the the current XBB.1.5 spikevax (Moderna) or COMIRNATY (Pfizer) are still likely to provide good protection from XEC.

It’s hard to predict how XEC will behave in Australia as we head into summer. We’ll need more research to understand more about this variant as it spreads. But given XEC was first detected in Europe during the northern hemisphere’s summer months, this suggests XEC might be well suited to spreading in warmer weather.

References

  1. ^ virologists have documented (nextstrain.org)
  2. ^ is called XEC (www.sbs.com.au)
  3. ^ detected in Australia (www.health.gov.au)
  4. ^ track the virus (www.abc.net.au)
  5. ^ COVID data (www.health.gov.au)
  6. ^ 275,000 so far this year (nindss.health.gov.au)
  7. ^ June 2024 (www.health.gov.au)
  8. ^ COVID variants (www.who.int)
  9. ^ in Italy (www.newscientist.com)
  10. ^ under monitoring (www.who.int)
  11. ^ XEC has spread (outbreak.info)
  12. ^ 20% of cases in Germany (outbreak.info)
  13. ^ 12% in the UK (outbreak.info)
  14. ^ around 6% in the US (covid.cdc.gov)
  15. ^ Photo by Centre for Ageing Better/Pexels (www.pexels.com)
  16. ^ spread more easily (www.aljazeera.com)
  17. ^ dominant variant (theconversation.com)
  18. ^ Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report (www.health.gov.au)
  19. ^ AusTrakka (www.cdgn.org.au)
  20. ^ majority of sequences (www.health.gov.au)
  21. ^ around 5% of cases (outbreak.info)
  22. ^ two different variants (theconversation.com)
  23. ^ FLiRT (theconversation.com)
  24. ^ variants (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  25. ^ FLuQE (theconversation.com)
  26. ^ surges in COVID infections (www.abc.net.au)
  27. ^ naming conventions (www.nature.com)
  28. ^ recombinant variant (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  29. ^ mutations (outbreak.info)
  30. ^ omicron lineage (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  31. ^ surveillance data (www.health.gov.au)
  32. ^ continue to update their vaccines (www.medscape.com)
  33. ^ still waiting (www.sbs.com.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/xec-is-now-in-australia-heres-what-we-know-about-this-hybrid-covid-variant-239292

Times Magazine

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

The Times Features

Ways to Attract Tenants in a Competitive Rental Market

In the kind of rental market we’ve got now, standing out is half the battle. The other half? Actually getting someone to sign that lease. With interest rates doing backflips and ...

Top Tips for Finding the Ideal Block to Build Your Home

There’s something deeply personal and exciting about building your own home. You’re not just choosing paint colours or furniture, you’re creating a space that reflects your lifes...

The Home Buying Process Explained Step by Step

Buying a home is a thrilling milestone, but it can also feel like navigating a maze without a map. With paperwork, finances, and decisions at every turn, understanding the home-b...

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

Selling a home is more than just putting up a “For Sale” sign. It’s a strategic process that involves preparation, pricing, and negotiation - all aimed at getting the best value ...

Smart Ways to Earn Passive Income from Real Estate

Imagine making money without doing much work. You get paid even while you sleep, travel, or do fun things. This is called passive income. Indeed, real estate has great ways to do...

Small Details, Big Difference: How Minor Decor Tweaks Can Redefine Your Home

Have you ever walked into a home that felt effortlessly stylish, but you couldn’t quite figure out why? It’s often not about major renovations; it’s the small details that make a...