Stock image of a woman wearing a face mask sneezing into elbow(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Covid Ireland: Exact order symptoms of new XEC variant show up as cases skyrocket

by · Irish Mirror

Ireland's health officials have issued an update on Covid numbers, confirming that the latest variant, named XEC, is spreading.

The new strain, which is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants, is thought to be more transmissible due to its numerous mutations.

Ireland's Health Protection Surveillance Centre reports that XEC now represents 20.6% of confirmed cases recorded over the last five weeks, a significant increase from 5.4% in the previous period

It said: "Since week 35 2024, the XEC variant (KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 recombinant, also a WHO and ECDC VOI) has steadily risen in prevalence in Ireland and globally. There is no evidence to date of an increase in clinical severity or reduction in vaccine effectiveness against severe disease among currently circulating variants.

READ MORE: Ireland weather: 'Snow' falls in Dublin leaving shoppers baffled amid unseasonably mild forecast

READ MORE: Irish Lotto winners dig up €5.5million ticket after weeks buried in garden

"The XEC lineage accounted for 20.6% of sequences between weeks 38 to 42 2024. This compares to 5.4% between weeks 33 to 37 2024."

As apprehension grows over the new XEC strain potentially becoming dominant in Ireland, it has been reported that the symptoms associated with this variant are similar to those of other Covid strains. However, researchers at the University of Southern California pinpointed the exact sequence in which symptoms of of the XEC appear.

The medical professionals believe this discovery could be key in distinguishing the new variant from other winter ailments. The symptom sequence is outlined as follows:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Muscle pain, or headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Joseph Larsen, the study's lead author and a doctoral candidate at USC Dornsife, stated: "Knowing that each illness progresses differently means that doctors can identify sooner whether someone likely has Covid, or another illness, which can help them make better treatment decisions," reports Surrey Live.

The HSE lists fatigue, a high temperature/having chills and a dry cough as the top three Covid symptoms to look out for. Less common symptoms of Covid, according to the HSE, include loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, runny or blocked nose, conjunctivitis, sore throat, headache, muscle or joint pain, different types of skin rash, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea and chills or dizziness.

If you have any of these symptoms, the HSE advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone. If you test positive for Covid, the current advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days from the date you first had symptoms.

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.