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Covid-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms
The XEC COVID-19 variant, first identified in Europe, now accounts for 45 percent of cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As infections tick upward, public health experts are urging vigilance.
The strain, a mix of earlier Omicron subvariants, exhibits symptoms similar to Omicron and its predecessors. These include:
Congestion,
Runny nose,
Cough,
Shortness of breath,
Fever or chills,
Fatigue.
Notably, loss of taste and smell — once hallmark signs of COVID-19 — has become increasingly rare.
…
Covid-19: Highly Mutated Pirola Variant Now Identified In 10 States
A newly identified COVID-19 strain with around 30 mutations has now been identified in 10 states.
Cases of the BA.2.86 strain, known as Pirola, have been confirmed in:
Colorado,
Maryland,
Michigan,
New York,
Ohio,
Oregon,
Pennsylvania,
Texas,
Virginia,
Washington.
The Michigan case, the first in the US, was an older woman who had recently returned from Japan who reportedly had mild symptoms.
Related story - COVID-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Spreading In US
At a World Health Organization (WHO) news briefing late last month, authorities said …