Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
It’s been almost five years since the first U.S. case of COVID-19 was diagnosed. Since then, several prominent variants have emerged, including Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron.
XEC is the newest COVID-19 variant, and it is increasingly present in the Pacific Northwest, says virologist Dr. Alex Greninger, professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. XEC, he says, is expected to be the dominant strain this fall. Symptoms are expected to mirror those of previous strains, with individuals' preexisting health conditions affecting the infection's severity.
As the weather gets colder, it’s important to protect yourself from these viruses.
“Wearing personal protective equipment is how we protect ourselves in the hospital. They work like masks do work,” Greninger said. “What you can do about it is get vaccinated at the appropriate time.”
Another virus of concern is the H5N1 bird flu. According to The Associated Press, a pig at an Oregon farm was recently found to be infected with H5N1. It was the first time the virus was detected in swine in the United States, and it heightens the chance that the virus could spread to more animals and adapt, thereby increasing risk for humans.
Bird flu, Greninger says, isn’t spreading like COVID-19 did in 2020. Moreover, there are effective antiviral medications for bird flu such as Tamiflu and Baloxavir. But since this strain is still new to the United States, it’s important to continue monitoring and protecting people most at risk, such as farm workers.
“The humans help viruses in the winter. It’s cold, we go inside, we're closer to each other. And also, your airways, it's drier,” Greninger says. “Your airways aren't as good at clearing.”
It’s been almost five years since the first U.S. case of COVID-19 was diagnosed. Since then, several prominent variants have emerged, including Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron.
XEC is the newest COVID-19 variant, and it is increasingly present in the Pacific Northwest, says virologist Dr. Alex Greninger, professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. XEC, he says, is expected to be the dominant strain this fall. Symptoms are expected to mirror those of previous strains, with individuals' preexisting health conditions affecting the infection's severity.
As the weather gets colder, it’s important to protect yourself from these viruses.
“Wearing personal protective equipment is how we protect ourselves in the hospital. They work like masks do work,” Greninger said. “What you can do about it is get vaccinated at the appropriate time.”
Another virus of concern is the H5N1 bird flu. According to The Associated Press, a pig at an Oregon farm was recently found to be infected with H5N1. It was the first time the virus was detected in swine in the United States, and it heightens the chance that the virus could spread to more animals and adapt, thereby increasing risk for humans.
Bird flu, Greninger says, isn’t spreading like COVID-19 did in 2020. Moreover, there are effective antiviral medications for bird flu such as Tamiflu and Baloxavir. But since this strain is still new to the United States, it’s important to continue monitoring and protecting people most at risk, such as farm workers.
“The humans help viruses in the winter. It’s cold, we go inside, we're closer to each other. And also, your airways, it's drier,” Greninger says. “Your airways aren't as good at clearing.”
