A new COVID-19 variant, dubbed XEC, is rapidly spreading worldwide, potentially overtaking the current dominant strain. It was first identified in Germany this June, XEC is now challenging the highly infectious KP.3.1.1 variant for prevalence.
New vaccines, which were designed for the earlier KP.2 variant, are expected soon and experts hope that these new vaccines will also be effective against XEC and KP.3.1.1.
In Israel, health officials report that the latest COVID-19 wave has peaked, with cases remaining stable at low levels. However, limited testing makes it difficult to determine exact infection rates. The country's pandemic death toll stands at 13,135.
Recent studies suggest that vaccination significantly reduces the risk of developing long COVID, prompting the CDC to recommend continued booster shots adapted to current strains.
As the pandemic evolves, health authorities worldwide continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and ongoing research to combat new variants.
