健康專家警告稱，新冠病毒變種 XEC“才剛開始”

XEC 菌株是 KS.1.1 和 KP.3.3 變種的組合，6 月首次在德國發現，但現已在三大洲 15 個國家發現。

Health experts have been warning people around the world over a new Covid variant that is spreading rapidly - and they say it is "just getting started".

健康專家一直在警告世界各地的人們注意一種正在迅速傳播的新冠病毒變種，他們說這「才剛開始」。

The XEC strain - which is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants - was first detected in Germany in June but has now been identified in 15 countries across three continents. Experts in the United States predict it will become the dominant variant. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, said XEC is "just getting started now around the world and here."

XEC 菌株是 KS.1.1 和 KP.3.3 變種的組合，6 月首次在德國發現，但現已在三大洲 15 個國家發現。美國專家預測它將成為主導變種。加州史克里普斯研究轉化研究所所長 Eric Topol 表示，XEC「現在在世界各地和這裡才剛起步」。

Dr Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said health experts will continue to monitor the variant in the coming weeks. Here, we explain everything we know about XEC so far, including its symptoms and how you can protect yourself.

南加州凱撒醫療機構傳染病區域負責人伊麗莎白·哈德森博士表示，衛生專家將在未來幾週內繼續監測該變種。在這裡，我們解釋了迄今為止我們所了解的有關 XEC 的所有信息，包括其症狀以及如何保護自己。

What are the symptoms of the XEC variant?

XEC 變種有哪些症狀？

The main symptoms of the XEC Covid variant, and other variants of the virus, are similar to those you experience with common illnesses such as colds and flu. While most people feel better within a few weeks, for others it can take longer to recover. Some people can also experience a more serious illness which could require hospitalisation.

XEC Covid 變種以及該病毒的其他變種的主要症狀與感冒和流感等常見疾病的症狀相似。雖然大多數人會在幾週內感覺好一些，但對其他人來說可能需要更長的時間才能恢復。有些人還可能患上更嚴重的疾病，可能需要住院治療。

According to the NHS, the latest Covid-19 symptoms can include:

據 NHS 稱，最新的 Covid-19 症狀可能包括：

* A high temperature or shivering (chills)

* 高溫或發抖（發冷）

* A new, continuous cough

* 新的、持續的咳嗽

* A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

* 嗅覺或味覺喪失或改變

* Shortness of breath

* 呼吸急促

* Feeling tired or exhausted

* 感覺疲倦或疲憊

* Aches and pains

* 疼痛和疼痛

* A headache

* 頭痛

* A sore throat

* 喉嚨痛

* A blocked or runny nose

* 鼻塞或流鼻水

* Loss of appetite

* 食慾不振

* Diarrhoea

* 腹瀉

* Feeling sick or being sick

* 感覺不舒服或生病了

Over the past few years, some Covid variants have proven to be more severe than others. To understand whether this is the case with XEC, though, we will need to wait a few more weeks or months so that health experts can establish how severe symptoms caused by this strain are.

過去幾年，一些新冠病毒變種已被證明比其他變種更為嚴重。不過，為了了解 XEC 是否屬於這種情況，我們需要再等待幾週或幾個月，以便健康專家能夠確定這種菌株引起的症狀有多嚴重。

How can you protect yourself?

你如何保護自己？

To protect yourself from the latest Covid variant, you should take the same precautions you took with other variants, including keeping up to date with vaccines and booster shots. Vaccines may not fully prevent infection but they remain the most effective protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death.

為了保護自己免受最新新冠病​​毒變種的感染，您應該採取與其他變種相同的預防措施，包括及時接種疫苗和加強注射。疫苗可能無法完全預防感染，但它們仍然是預防嚴重疾病、住院和死亡的最有效保護措施。

Wearing a face mask, particularly in crowded or indoor settings where ventilation is poor, could also help you be protected against the virus, especially if you're vulnerable or live with someone who is more vulnerable to severe illness. Where possible, improving indoor ventilation can help reduce the risk of infection.

戴口罩，特別是在擁擠或通風不良的室內環境中，也可以幫助您免受病毒感染，特別是如果您很脆弱或與更容易患嚴重疾病的人住在一起。在可能的情況下，改善室內通風有助於降低感染風險。

Keeping physical distance from others and avoiding large gatherings is also recommended. Maintaining good hygiene habits, such as washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water, is key. If you develop any symptoms or have been in touch with someone who is infected, you should isolate to prevent further spread of the virus.

也建議與他人保持身體距離並避免大型聚會。保持良好的衛生習慣，例如用肥皂和水徹底洗手是關鍵。如果您出現任何症狀或與感染者有接觸，您應該隔離以防止病毒進一步傳播。

What to do if you test positive

如果檢測結果呈陽性該怎麼辦

The NHS recommends that if you test positive or have any Covid symptoms, you should get lots of rest and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. If you feel uncomfortable, medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help alleviate your symptoms.

英國國民醫療服務體系（NHS）建議，如果您的檢測結果呈陽性或出現任何新冠症狀，您應該充分休息並多喝水，以避免脫水。如果您感到不舒服，撲熱息痛或布洛芬等藥物可以幫助緩解症狀。

If you have a cough, you could have a teaspoon of honey - but you shouldn't give honey to babies under 12 months. If you feel breathlessness, you should try turning the heating down or opening a window, sitting upright, relaxing your shoulders and learning forward slightly. The NHS also recommends breathing slowly "in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together like you're gently blowing out a candle."

如果您咳嗽，可以喝一茶匙蜂蜜 - 但不應該給 12 個月以下的嬰兒餵蜂蜜。如果感到呼吸困難，應嘗試將暖氣調低或打開窗戶，坐直，放鬆肩膀，稍微向前學習。英國國民醫療服務體係也建議緩慢地呼吸，「透過鼻子吸氣，透過嘴巴呼氣，雙唇合攏，就像輕輕吹熄蠟燭一樣」。

How many cases have there been so far?

到目前為止已有多少例？

The latest figures for the UK show a 4.3% increase in Covid cases week on week. There were also 102 Covid deaths in the week to August 30 in England. 1,465 patients were admitted to hospitals with Covid in the same week. However, it's important to note that the UK Health Security Agency hasn't released detailed data on the specific XEC variant yet.

英國的最新數據顯示，新冠病例每週增加 4.3%。截至 8 月 30 日當週，英格蘭也有 102 例新冠死亡病例。同一周，有 1,465 名新冠患者入院。然而，值得注意的是，英國衛生安全局尚未發布有關特定 XEC 變種的詳細數據。

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