New Covid variant cases rise with GP warning it's 'wiping people out'

The new XEC Covid variant has been sweeping across the UK and has been described as 'wiping people out' as a General Practitioner has likened the symptoms to flu

A GP has raised concerns about a new Covid variant, XEC, which is currently spreading across the UK and reportedly "wipes you out". Dr Helen Wall, a General Practitioner and clinical director of population health in Greater Manchester, described the latest strain as more severe than some previous ones, comparing it to flu but with more intense symptoms.

Speaking to the MEN, Dr Wall said an increase in respiratory infections were coinciding with the rise of XEC, reports the Mirror. She said: "We do see generally a rise in respiratory infections this time of year.

"There is another Covid variant on the scene which is expected to become the most dominant, and is becoming more prevalent like all the variants before it. We don't completely know if it makes it more or less transmissible, I suspect more because they always are. But we don't know what the situation is."

The XEC variant is a recombinant, formed when two strains combine, potentially within an individual infected with both simultaneously. This variant is a mix of the KP 3.3 and KS. 1.1 strains and shares characteristics with omicron, the highly infectious but milder variant first identified in South Africa in 2021.

Health experts have sounded the alarm that the XEC strain "appears to have a growth advantage and is spreading faster than other circulating variants, suggesting it will become the dominant variant globally in the next few months". Dr Helen Wall, a GP from Bolton, says recent Covid cases have been presenting with more flu-like symptoms.

She said: "We could well be seeing the new Covid variant in practice. At the moment, it seems to be a bit more flu-like than previous iterations of Covid, with a high temperature, a cough, aching body, headache.

"Some of the symptoms in the past were more cough and cold symptoms, but, at the moment, Covid does seem to be wiping people out. But whether that's Covid is really difficult to say because a lot of the symptoms blur together with other illnesses that are prevalent at this time of year."

Dr Wall added that it's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between Covid and flu, saying: "Whether it's Covid versus flu is hard to separate. People who have the flu tend to be extremely unwell. Sometimes, people say they've got the flu but have actually got a bad cold. Generally, if you've got true flu, you're bed bound. With Covid, you might actually be quite well. You might be coughing and having other symptoms, but able to go about your business and you might be unintentionally spreading it to people who are vulnerable."

The NHS is gearing up to tackle the "tripledemic" of winter illnesses, deploying new vaccines including the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) jab, in addition to Covid and flu shots. Amid concerns about vaccine fatigue following aches and soreness post-vaccination, one doctor is urging the public not to forgo these crucial jabs, warning of more severe consequences if left unprotected.

She said: "Three vaccines is a lot, and some people might think it's just another thing to worry about, or get the new RSV jab but then not get the Covid and flu jabs too."

In light of the cost-of-living crisis and people's reluctance to take time off work for vaccination or due to side effects, she said: "The difficulty is that people are working, there's a cost-of-living crisis people don't want to be off work to get a vaccine or if they're feeling a little unwell because of any side effects. But I'd encourage people to keep in mind the bigger picture."

To alleviate concerns, she added: "Most vaccine side effects go within a few hours to 24 hours, around half of the people who get a vaccine won't get side effects at all. If you get any of these illnesses, you'll be off work for much longer."

In a plea to individuals qualified for vaccination, she added: "If you've been deemed eligible for these vaccines, it's because we think you're going to be very ill if you get these and end up in hospital. It's about keeping that in perspective, you don't want to look back and wish you'd had the jabs."