New COVID variant XEC spreads to half of U.S. states

A new COVID-19 variant known as XEC has been detected in at least 25 states across the U.S., with the highest number of cases reported in New Jersey. The variant was first identified in early August, coinciding with reports from labs in Europe and Virginia. Notably, some of the earliest cases in the U.S. were sampled from patients in July at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. The majority of these samples originated from hospitals in southwestern Virginia, although specific patient demographics remain unknown. Health officials are monitoring the XEC variant but have not raised significant concerns, unlike previous variants that exhibited more alarming mutations. The emergence of XEC comes as COVID-19 infection trends are currently high but showing signs of slowing after a summer peak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates a potential rise in cases during the winter months, with a peak expected in mid-January. The XEC variant is classified as a recombinant strain, derived from two parent variants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. The CDC has not identified any specific symptoms associated with XEC or other circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages. In light of the ongoing pandemic, health authorities continue to recommend that Americans receive updated COVID-19 vaccines, which have been tailored to target the KP.2 strain. The FDA has defended its decision to focus on the KP.2 strain for this year's vaccines, despite recommendations from the World Health Organization and external advisory panels to target the JN.1 variant instead. The agency expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the updated vaccines as the nation prepares for the upcoming winter season.