The highly transmissible XEC strain of the COVID virus first emerged in June in Germany. It's since spread rapidly across Europe and made its way to at least half of U.S. states, with experts predicting it will be the dominant variant this winter.

A new and highly transmissible Covid variant is on its way to becoming the most dominant in the UK, as experts are urging Brits to get their autumn vaccines ahead of time

Here's what you need to know about the new XEC variant, which could soon become the dominant form of COVID-19.

That would mean the usual COVID symptoms listed by the NHS - including a high temperature or shivering, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to sense of smell or taste - would still apply. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, feeling tired or exhausted, an aching body and a headache.

When it comes to where the new variant has been detected, right now, it’s more common in Europe. Currently, it’s been detected in Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, and Portugal. But XEC has been detected in other places too, such as China, not to mention the 23 cases that have been detected in U.S. so far, including three in California.

As cold and flu season approaches, the situation is becoming more complex with the recent emergence of the new COVID-19 variant, XEC. COVID-19 and knowledge of its exact properties have evolved quite a bit,

Over the nearly five years since COVID first emerged, you'd be forgiven if you've lost track of the number of new variants we've seen. Some have had a bigger impact than others, but virologists have documented thousands.

The NHS has urged people 'clinically at risk' to get vaccinated before the winter as XEC variant Covid-19 cases continue to rise with some people at far higher risk from the infection

The XEC strain has been detected in 29 countries, with scientists saying it could become the dominant Covid variant. Here’s everything you need to know. A new Covid variant that scientists say could become the dominant type has been detected in Australia.