健康专家警告称，新冠病毒变种 XEC“才刚刚开始”

XEC 菌株是 KS.1.1 和 KP.3.3 变种的组合，于 6 月份首次在德国发现，但现已在三大洲 15 个国家发现。

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".

健康专家一直在警告世界各地的人们注意一种正在迅速传播的新型冠状病毒变种，他们说这“才刚刚开始”。

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 变种的组合，6 月份首次在德国发现，但现已在三大洲 15 个国家发现。美国专家预测它将成为主导变种。加利福尼亚州斯克里普斯研究转化研究所所长埃里克·托波尔 (Eric Topol) 表示，XEC“现在在世界各地和这里才刚刚起步”。

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.

南加州凯撒医疗机构传染病区域负责人伊丽莎白·哈德森博士表示，卫生专家将在未来几周内继续监测该变种。在这里，我们解释了迄今为止我们所了解的有关 XEC 的所有信息，包括其症状以及如何保护自己。

What are the symptoms of the XEC variant?

XEC 变种有哪些症状？

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 变种以及该病毒的其他变种的主要症状与感冒和流感等常见疾病的症状相似。虽然大多数人会在几周内感觉好一些，但对于其他人来说可能需要更长的时间才能恢复。有些人还可能患上更严重的疾病，可能需要住院治疗。

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

据 NHS 称，最新的 Covid-19 症状可能包括：

* A high temperature or shivering (chills)

* 高温或发抖（发冷）

* A new, continuous cough

* 新的、持续的咳嗽

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

* 嗅觉或味觉丧失或改变

* Shortness of breath

* 气促

* Feeling tired or exhausted

* 感觉疲倦或疲惫

* Aches and pains

* 疼痛和疼痛

* A headache

* 头痛

* A sore throat

* 喉咙痛

* A blocked or runny nose

* 鼻塞或流鼻涕

* Loss of appetite

* 食欲不振

* Diarrhoea

* 腹泻

* Feeling sick or being sick

* 感觉不舒服或生病了

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.

过去几年，一些新冠病毒变种已被证明比其他变种更为严重。不过，为了了解 XEC 是否属于这种情况，我们需要再等待几周或几个月，以便健康专家能够确定这种菌株引起的症状有多严重。

How can you protect yourself?

你如何保护自己？

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.

为了保护自己免受最新新冠病​​毒变种的感染，您应该采取与其他变种相同的预防措施，包括及时接种疫苗和加强注射。疫苗可能无法完全预防感染，但它们仍然是预防严重疾病、住院和死亡的最有效保护措施。

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，特别是在拥挤或通风不良的室内环境中，也可以帮助您免受病毒感染，特别是如果您很脆弱或与更容易患严重疾病的人住在一起。在可能的情况下，改善室内通风有助于降低感染风险。

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.

还建议与他人保持身体距离并避免大型聚会。保持良好的卫生习惯，例如用肥皂和水彻底洗手是关键。如果您出现任何症状或与感染者有过接触，您应该隔离以防止病毒进一步传播。

What to do if you test positive

如果检测结果呈阳性该怎么办

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.

英国国民医疗服务体系（NHS）建议，如果您的检测结果呈阳性或出现任何新冠症状，您应该充分休息并多喝水，以避免脱水。如果您感到不舒服，扑热息痛或布洛芬等药物可以帮助缓解症状。

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 - 但不应该给 12 个月以下的婴儿喂蜂蜜。如果感到呼吸困难，应尝试将暖气调低或打开窗户，坐直，放松肩膀，稍微向前学习。英国国民医疗服务体系还建议缓慢地呼吸，“通过鼻子吸气，通过嘴巴呼气，双唇合拢，就像轻轻吹灭蜡烛一样”。

How many cases have there been so far?

到目前为止已有多少例？

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.

英国的最新数据显示，新冠病例每周增加 4.3%。截至 8 月 30 日当周，英格兰也有 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，英国卫生安全局尚未发布有关特定 XEC 变种的详细数据。

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