It’s been a few years since Covid-19 found its way to drive the world topsy-turvy and the virus isn’t done with us yet. An expert has revealed five potential warning signs of the current Covid strain XEC which is on rise in the UK. The onset of winter is linked with many respiratory illnesses and it’s quite typical to fall ill with some form of seasonal sickness.
The numbers don’t lie!
Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that Covid-19 cases are staying relatively high, with 1,081 confirmed instances for the week ending December 4. There have also been 122 deaths associated with Covid during the seven days preceding November 22.
Moreover, the latest statistics show a slight climbing trend in hospitalisations due to Covid, with 1,085 in the week up to November 30, marking a 1.5 percent increment from the previous week.
Susceptibility to the viruses is heightened due to the chilly weather and increased indoor interaction with others. Nonetheless, given the multitude of circulating illnesses right now, it can be challenging to pinpoint the exact problem.

What is the Covid XEC strain?

XEC, the up-and-comer among circulating SARS-CoV-2 viruses, arose from the recombination of 2 other variants. It’s a subvariant of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain and is made up of combinations of two pre-existing COVID-19 subvariants (KP.3.3 and KS.1.1).
XEC first appeared in Germany in June 2024 before spreading rapidly throughout other parts of Europe. Fortunately, all 3 are descendants of the original Omicron virus and are closely related to the variants targeted by the latest COVID-19 vaccines, which are JN. 1 and KP. 2.
Health authorities had linked a spike in Covid cases to the advent of the XEC variant. This strain is believed to be highly contagious owing to several mutations.

The aftereffect:

More recently, NHS officials have issued warnings about the potential for a ‘quademic’ hitting the UK, with flu, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Covid expected to impact large parts of the population this winter.
An expert revealed that a sore throat is one potential symptom of Covid. However, it could easily be linked to another illness such as strep throat or tonsillitis.

Phil Day, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, told people to look for four other symptoms accompanying a sore throat that could identify your illness as Covid. He said, “The XEC variant of COVID-19 has added another layer of complexity to the sore throat diagnosis.” Elaborating on this, he stated, “In many cases, a sore throat is one of the initial symptoms, often accompanied by a dry cough, fatigue, fever, and sometimes a loss of taste or smell. While most mild cases can be managed with rest and over-the-counter remedies, it’s crucial to assess whether COVID-19 could be the cause of your symptoms.”

Symptoms: How do you know that you are affected by the Covid XEC strain?

Strep throat: Unlike common sore throats, Strep throat is a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils caused by group A streptococcus bacteria. A strep throat typically has symptoms like a sore throat, fever, swollen glands, and pain when swallowing. Other symptoms include red spots on the roof of the mouth, white or yellow patches on the tonsils, and a rash.
As per Phil Day, “It’s important to recognise that unlike a viral sore throat, strep throat requires antibiotics to prevent complications like rheumatic fever. This means a GP consultation is necessary for proper diagnosis and prescription, as antibiotics cannot be issued without a confirmed bacterial cause.”
Tonsillitis: Tonsillitis is an infection that causes the tonsils to become inflamed, or swollen and red. The symptoms are sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swollen tonsils, fever, headache, earache, coughing, feeling sick, tender lymph nodes in the neck. Viral or bacterial infection, such as strep throat can trigger tonsillitis. It may also cause bad breath, swollen lymph nodes, and even ear pain.
Phil said, “Viral tonsillitis is generally managed with supportive care, much like treating a sore throat—rest, hydration, and over-the-counter treatments. However, bacterial tonsillitis, particularly when caused by strep bacteria, requires antibiotic treatment.”
Laryngitis: Laryngitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the voice box, or larynx, which can result in voice changes. Symptoms include hoarseness, loss of voice, sore throat, mild fever, irritating cough, and a constant need to clear your throat. Viral infections, allergies, bacterial infections, bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), injury, and irritants and chemicals can cause laryngitis. The condition is commonly triggered by viral infections, overuse of the voice, or exposure to irritants like smoke.”
As per Phil, “While laryngitis typically clears up on its own within a week or two, the discomfort can be bothersome. Pharmacists can offer advice on how to soothe the throat during recovery, such as staying hydrated, using throat lozenges, and resting the voice. Avoiding irritants like smoking and maintaining a humid environment can also help speed up recovery.”
Like every other new strain, the new XEC variant has additional mutations, which means it is more infectious than others. Coughing fit, as per NHS, has been described as one of the many symptoms of XEC, which could be dominating the wave of infections this time. Experts say if you experience this symptom and coughing a lot, you should isolate yourself and avoid meeting other people.
XEC usually shows up mild symptoms but this could also mean they spread more efficiently among people as they don’t isolate and infect vulnerable population, putting them at risk of hospitalisation.