A new variant of the COVID-19 virus has been detected in Rio de Janeiro. The XEC, as it was named, is a derivative of the Omicron variant and has been spreading in other countries. In Brazil, the first cases were identified by the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) in samples from two people living in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, who had not recently traveled abroad.
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Cases Studied
One patient is a 45-year-old man who began showing symptoms on 9 September. The other is a 61-year-old woman who experienced her first signs on 11 September. According to the State Department of Health, both have recovered after mild symptoms, similar to a common cold.
Covid in Rio de Janeiro
Current data from the Municipal Health Department of Rio de Janeiro and Infogripe, from Fiocruz, do not indicate an increase in COVID cases in the city. The recommendation is simply to reinforce hygiene measures and, in the event of flu-like symptoms, seek out a primary healthcare unit for testing.
Variant Under Monitoring
On 24 September, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the XEC as a variant under monitoring. This occurs when a lineage presents mutations that may affect the virus’s behavior and there are signs of growth advantage over other circulating variants.
More Transmissible
This variant began to attract attention between June and July 2024 due to an increase in detections in Germany. It quickly spread across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. At least 35 countries have identified the strain. Data suggests that XEC may be more transmissible than other lineages.
Source: G1.
