A new COVID-19 variant has recently arrived on the scene, and while it hasn’t yet risen to dominance, experts suggest that XEC could be the next big variant to watch. 2024 has seen something of a “summer of COVID”.

COVID XEC variant has been confirmed in 27 countries in Europe, North America and Asia, according to data specialist Mike Honey, as the strain grows.

A newly discovered COVID strain known as XEC continues to spread rapidly worldwide and in the U.S. Here's what to know about the strand.