The new Covid variant XEC, more infectious than its predecessors, is rapidly spreading and manifesting intense flu-like symptoms. Originating in Germany, it is now present in various countries including the US and UK.

That would mean the usual COVID symptoms listed by the NHS - including a high temperature or shivering, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to sense of smell or taste - would still apply. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, feeling tired or exhausted, an aching body and a headache.

Over the nearly five years since COVID first emerged, you'd be forgiven if you've lost track of the number of new variants we've seen. Some have had a bigger impact than others, but virologists have documented thousands.

XEC, a sublineage of the omicron variant, was first reported in Berlin, Germany, in June and is now spreading “quite rapidly” across Europe, North America and Asia, according to Covid data analyst Mike Honey. The Czech Republic had the highest prevalence of the variant as 16 per cent of Covid case samples from the country contained XEC.

A new Covid variant is causing alarm as it's believed to be more transmissible and has symptoms that "wipe people out" according to BBC Breakfast's resident GP, Dr Helen Wall

The side effects of newly discovered COVID strain XEC might not be more severe, but appears to be more contagious, epidemiologist Joëlla W. Adams said

The XEC Covid variant is said to be 'wiping people out' as it comes with more severe symptoms than some of its predecessors, likening it to flu as the side effects are so intense

A new Covid variant is surging across the UK, with experts saying it’s “just getting started”. XEC was first detected in Germany in June, and has since been reported in the UK, Denmark and Ukraine. Symptoms include a high temperature, aches, tiredness, a cough or sore throat, trouble sleeping and a runny nose.

A new covid-19 variant called XEC may spread more easily than past variants, but current vaccines are still effective against it

A CDC spokesperson said the current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to provide some protection against XEC and other circulating variants. A new COVID-19 variant, called XEC, is spreading rapidly in Europe.