The XEC COVID variant is in the U.S. A UT infectious disease specialist says there's likely no need to panic, as the strain is similar to existing ones.

Much like its predecessors, the XEC variant has a range of symptoms – we all know Covid is an illness that can impact people in different ways – but there are some core signs to look out for, including a fever (especially in the earlier stages), a sore throat and changes in your sense of smell.

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

It's called XEC. The variant has been spotted around the world and in half of the United States. So far officials are not raising concern about it -- the way they did with other variants that were more mutated.