Scientists have confirmed the emergence of a new COVID variant which they have warned of its possible dominance due to new mutations and ease of spread over the coming dry season (winter).
   
The variant known as XEC was said to have emerged from earlier Omicron sub-variants and was first identified in Germany around June but is now seen in various other countries including Denmark, the US, the UK, and others.

Reports on X (formally Twitter) showed that people have started catching the new variant while experts explained that although available vaccines do not prevent the spread of XEC, they could still help prevent severe cases.
 
The director of the Genetics Institute, University College London, Prof Francois Balloux told BBC News that the new variant has a slight transmission advantage over other recent COVID variants and warns of a possible dominance of XEC over the winter.
  
Another researcher, Eric Topol, told the LA Times that although it’s months off from getting into high levels, XEC appears to be the next new variant which is just getting started and will take charge.

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“And that’s going to take many weeks, a couple months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave,” he added.
  
However, the news of this emergence has sparked lots of theories and controversies on social media as many believe that the news is only a ruse to convince people to get the newly approved and updated COVID jab.

Meanwhile, a recent update by US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on the vaccine showed that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized the 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines on August 22, 2024, as well as Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2024 – 2025 Formula) under Emergency Use Authorization on August 30, 2024, the report of XEC by BBC on X (formally Twitter) was met with disapproval.