Map reveals where new XEC Covid variant is spreading across Europe as doctor warns it could soon be dominant strain of the virus

A new ‘stronger’ Covid variant, with cases reported around the world, is now spreading ‘quite quickly’ across Europe as a doctor warns it could soon become the dominant strain of the virus.

The XEC strain was first discovered in Germany in June, but cases have since been reported in Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, the US and other countries – with 1,115 cases worldwide.

MailOnline’s map highlights all documented cases of the new XEC strain across Europe.

It is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants and causes symptoms similar to those you experience with common illnesses such as flu and the common cold.

Most people will get better within a few weeks, but for others it may take longer to recover and some may even require hospitalization as it is said to ‘wipe you out’.

The XEC strain was first detected in Germany in June and has since been reported in 29 countries (stock image)

Experts warn that the XEC variant could become the dominant strain during the winter months

Common symptoms include high temperature, persistent coughing, loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, body aches and extreme fatigue.

Cold-like symptoms such as headache, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose are also common, as are loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

But researchers have called for closer monitoring of the XEC variant to better understand its symptoms.

GP and clinical director of public health, Dr Helen Wall, pointed to an increase in respiratory infections coinciding with a rise in cases of the new XEC strain.

She told me Manchester Evening News: ‘There is another Covid variant on the market that is expected to become the most dominant, and which, like all previous variants, is becoming increasingly common.

‘We don’t really know whether that makes it more or less transmissible, I suspect more because that is always the case. But we don’t know what the situation is like.’

Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, Professor Francois Balloux, told the BBC that the XEC variant is more contagious but the vaccines should still provide good protection because it comes from the Omicron family.

He also believes it is possible that this species could become the dominant species during the winter months.

Common symptoms include high temperature, persistent cough, loss of sense of taste or smell (stock image)

Last month, Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, said that XEC is “just getting started, around the world and here.”

Speaking to the LA Times, he added: “And that will take many weeks, a few months, before it really takes hold and starts to make a wave.

‘XEC is definitely taking the lead. That seems to be the next variant.

“But it will take months before we reach a high level.”

The strain has now been detected in at least 29 countries and 24 US states and is now spreading “quite quickly” across Europe, North America and Asia, Covid data analyst Mike Honey said.

The Czech Republic has the highest prevalence of the variant, as XEC was detected in 16 percent of Covid samples from the country.