Doctors have issued a warning about the new XEC variant of Covid-19, noting that symptoms seem to appear in a noticeably specific sequence.
With the cold weather upon us, Brits are facing a triple threat as cases of this variant rise alongside low flu jab uptake and increasing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.
Although these illnesses might seem similar at first glance, researchers from the University of Southern California have pinpointed the exact order in which Covid-19 symptoms manifest, potentially making it easier to distinguish between the new variant and other winter bugs, according to SurreyLive.The XEC strain, expected to become the UK's most dominant, shares many characteristics with previous variants, being a mix of Omicron subvariants.
The order of symptoms is as follows: Fever Cough Sore throat Muscle pain or headache Nausea or vomiting Diarrhoea Dr Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, from the University of California, remarked: "The symptoms seem to be the same as with other recent subvariants of Omicron." Latest stats reveal the XEC Covid strain is spreading throughout the UK, with hospital admissions for positive Covid-19 cases climbing to 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6, up from 3.7 the previous week – marking the fourth consecutive weekly increase, as reported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).