Flu season is approaching. Here's what to know about the new COVID variant XEC

We are heading into flu season and the CDC recommends getting an updated vaccination to protect yourself against the flu and COVID. A newly discovered COVID strain known as XEC continues to spread rapidly across multiple countries, including the U.S.

Omicron variant KP.3.1.1, also known as deFLuQE , made up over half (52.7%) of COVID-19 cases between Sept. 1 and Sept. 14. However XEC and a variant known as MV.1 seem poised to become the next dominant strains, scientists say.

Here's what to know.

From USA TODAY: COVID variant XEC sees rapid global growth

What is the XEC COVID variant?

First appearing late June in Berlin, the XEC COVID-19 strain has spread across Europe, North America and Asia totaling around 550 samples, according to data integration specialist Mike Honey .

The variant has been recorded in 27 countries including China, Ukraine, Norway and Poland.

Others are reading: COVID-19 is rising again. How effective was the vaccine? How severe is this strain?

What is COVID variant MV. 1?

First documented in Maharashtra, India, in late June, COVID-19 variant MV.1 has been recorded in nine countries, including the U.S., Honey reported.

It's spread across four continents in countries including Portugal, Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands. In the U.S., it's mainly been seen in the northeast, according to Honey.

How many XEC variant cases have been detected in US?

At least 95 sequences in the XEC lineage have been identified between June 28 and August 20, including 25 in the U.S, according to Scripps Research’s Outbreak.info page last updated on Sept. 5.

What are COVID XEC symptoms?

The CDC has not confirmed whether there are any unique symptoms from the XEC variant. USA TODAY has reached out to CDC officials for comment.

The agency continues to outline the basic COVID-19 symptoms, which can appear between two to 14 days after exposure to the virus and can range from mild to severe.

These are some of the symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

Should I get the new COVID vaccine?

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older, with some exceptions, receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the virus, regardless whether or not you have previously been vaccinated or infected.

For more information on updated vaccines, see the article below.

Vaccines: CDC recommends updated COVID-19 and flu vaccinations ahead of fall and winter virus season

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Flu season is approaching. Here's what to know about the new COVID variant XEC