The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare recently alerted hospitals across Nigeria to the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, identified as XEC, which has been detected in Australia and has spread to 29 countries globally.
The variant is reported to have a growth advantage over other circulating strains, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health.
In a directive addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, the Ministry called for heightened vigilance in diagnosing patients presenting with COVID-like symptoms.
The directive, signed by Dr. O.N. Anuma, Head of the Teaching Hospitals Division, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, urged hospitals to activate their alert systems immediately to ensure a high level of suspicion for the new strain.
The Ministry also emphasised the importance of preventive measures, including practising proper hand hygiene, washing hands with soap and water, maintaining a safe distance, wearing face masks in public spaces, covering the mouth while coughing, and reporting any fever or persistent coughing to the nearest health facility.
Here are some facts you should know about the disease.
The Disease
The XEC variant, a new recombinant strain of SARS-CoV-2, emerged as a fusion of two Omicron-descendant variants, JN.1 and KP.2. Experts have noted that it shares high genetic similarity with its predecessors, differing by only four amino acid changes.
Scientists attributed the emergence of XEC to a process called recombination, where genetic material from different variants combines in individuals infected with multiple strains simultaneously. This phenomenon often occurs in immunocompromised individuals.
XEC was first detected in Germany on August 7, 2024. By late September, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified it as a “variant under monitoring,” indicating it requires close surveillance due to its potential impact on global health.
Rapid Spread Across Regions
The variant has shown rapid growth in prevalence. Globally, it accounted for 17% of SARS-CoV-2 sequences by mid-October and increased to 28% of cases in the United States by early November, according to health authorities.
Vaccine Effectiveness Against XEC
Fortunately, XEC does not appear to cause more severe symptoms than previous variants. Current COVID-19 vaccines, particularly the latest versions, are expected to remain effective in preventing severe disease associated with this variant.
Speculation About Its Origins
Researchers suggest that XEC may have emerged during large international events such as the EURO 2024 soccer tournament or the Paris Olympics. However, pinpointing the exact origin remains impossible.
Higher Reproduction Rate
Laboratory studies revealed that XEC’s reproduction rate is 13% higher than that of KP.3.1.1, the dominant global variant as of early November. This means XEC has the potential to become the leading variant in the coming months.
Enhanced Immune Evasion
Experiments have revealed that XEC is more skilled at evading immune defences compared to its predecessors, raising concerns about its ability to spread among populations with prior infections or vaccinations.
