New XEC Covid variant cases soar - Everything we know from symptoms to how to protect yourself

Health experts have been warning people around the world over a new Covid variant that is spreading rapidly - and they say it is "just getting started".

The XEC strain - which is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants - was first detected in Germany in June but has now been identified in 15 countries across three continents. Experts in the United States predict it will become the dominant variant. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, said XEC is "just getting started now around the world and here."

Dr Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said health experts will continue to monitor the variant in the coming weeks. Here, we explain everything we know about XEC so far, including its symptoms and how you can protect yourself.

READ MORE: New Covid variant XEC spreading rapidly and 'just getting started'

What are the symptoms of the XEC variant?

The main symptoms of the XEC Covid variant, and other variants of the virus, are similar to those you experience with common illnesses such as colds and flu. While most people feel better within a few weeks, for others it can take longer to recover. Some people can also experience a more serious illness which could require hospitalisation.

According to the NHS, the latest Covid-19 symptoms can include:

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a headache
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• feeling sick or being sick

Over the past few years, some Covid variants have proven to be more severe than others. To understand whether this is the case with XEC, though, we will need to wait a few more weeks or months so that health experts can establish how severe symptoms caused by this strain are.

How can you protect yourself?

To protect yourself from the latest Covid variant, you should take the same precautions you took with other variants, including keeping up to date with vaccines and booster shops. Vaccines may not fully prevent infection but they remain the most effective protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death.

Wearing a face mask, particularly in crowded or indoor settings where ventilation is poor, could also help you be protected against the virus, especially if you're vulnerable or live with someone who is more vulnerable to severe illness. Where possible, improving indoor ventilation can help reduce the risk of infection.

Keeping physical distance from others and avoiding large gatherings is also recommended. Maintaining good hygiene habits, such as washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water, is key. If you develop any symptoms or have been in touch with someone who is infected, you should isolate to prevent further spread of the virus.

What to do if you test positive

The NHS recommends that if you test positive or have any Covid symptoms, you should get lots of rest and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. If you feel uncomfortable, medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help alleviate your symptoms.

If you have a cough, you could have a teaspoon of honey - but you shouldn't give honey to babies under 12 months. If you feel breathlessness, you should try turning the heating down or opening a window, sitting upright, relaxing your shoulders and learning forward slightly. The NHS also recommends breathing slowly "in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together like you're gently blowing out a candle."

How many cases have there been so far?

The latest figures for the UK show a 4.3% increase in Covid cases week on week. There were also 102 Covid deaths in the week to August 30 in England. 1,465 patients were admitted to hospitals with Covid in the same week. However, it's important to note that the UK Health Security Agency hasn't released detailed data on the specific XEC variant yet.