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XEC and KP.3.1.1 variants, symptoms, cases, data

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XEC and KP.3.1.1 variants, symptoms, cases, data

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KP.3.1.1 is still the predominant COVID-19 variant in the United States, accounting for nearly 60% of positive cases, but the XEC variant is not far behind, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show.

“CDC is monitoring the XEC variant,” Rosa Norman, a CDC spokeswoman, told USA TODAY. “XEC is the proposed name of a recombinant or hybrid of the closely related Omicron lineages KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.”

The variant, which first emerged in Berlin in late June, has increasingly seen hundreds of cases in Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands, according to a report from Australia-based data integration specialist Mike Honey.

The CDC's Nowcast data tracker, which displays COVID-19 estimates and projections for two-week periods, found that the KP.3.1.1 variant accounted for 57.2% of positive infections, followed by XEC at 10.7% in The two-week phase begins on September 29th and ends on October 12th.

KP.3.1.1 first became the leading variant between July 21 and August 3.

The latest data shows an increase in each variant's share of total cases from September 15 to 28, as KP.3.1.1 increased by 4.6% and XEC increased by 5.4%. Previously, the KP.3.1.1 variant accounted for 52.6% of cases and XEC 5.3% from September 15 to 28.

Here's everything you need to know about the XEC variant and the latest CDC data.

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What are the most dominant variants circulating in the United States?

The CDC's Nowcast data tracker shows the following strains are in the top 10 most dominant variant shares:

Can't see the table? Click here to view.

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Map of current viral activity levels in COVID-19 wastewater

Note: Typically, wastewater data is updated weekly and published data reflects the previous week's results. However, it may take up to five days to a week for results to be posted online. Therefore, the data from October 5th is considered the most recent data.

Here is a map of the states and territories that have reported viral activity levels in wastewater. The data was released on October 10th.

Can't see the map? Click here to view.

Here is a breakdown of the data shown in the map of states and territories that have reported viral activity levels in wastewater:

  • Very high: Two states
  • High: 14 states
  • Moderate: 11 states
  • Low: 15 states
  • Minimal: seven states; a territory
  • No data: a state; a territory

Changes in COVID-19 test positivity within a week

Data collected by the CDC shows an overall decline in the positivity rate, while the four states in Region 10 experienced the largest decline (-2.7%) in positive COVID-19 cases from September 29, 2024 to October 5, 2024.

The data was released on October 11th.

Note: The CDC organizes the positivity rate by region, as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Here is the list of changes in COVID-19 positivity by states and their regions over the past week:

  • Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont): -2%
  • Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands): -1.9%
  • Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia): -1.3%
  • Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee): -0.6%
  • Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin): -2%
  • Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas): -0.8%
  • Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska): -1.7%
  • Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming): -1.2%
  • Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau): -1.3%
  • Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington): -2.7%

CDC data shows COVID-19 test positivity rate was recorded at 7.7% out of September 29 to October 5, an absolute change of -1.8% from the previous week.

Covid-19 symptoms

The variants currently prevalent in the United States do not have their own specific symptoms, according to the CDC.

“CDC is not aware of any new or unusual symptoms associated with XEC or any other co-circulating lineage of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,” Norman said.

The government agency explains the basic symptoms of COVID-19 on its website. These symptoms can appear between two and 14 days after contracting the virus and range from mild to severe.

These are some of the symptoms of COVID-19:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • fatigue
  • Muscle or body pain
  • Headache
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

The CDC said you should see a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake up or stay awake
  • Pale, gray or blue skin, lips or nail beds

Contributor: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on USA TODAY's National Trending Team. Ahjané covers breaking news, auto recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Send her an email at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

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