XEC is a "recombinant" Covid-19 variant, which means it's a mix of two previous Omicron subvariants called KS 1.1 and KP 3.3. A recombinant variant is created when someone is infected with two strains of a virus that go on reproduce and create another strain.

Australia has recorded its first cases of the XEC COVID-19 variant that has been spreading in Europe this year. Here's what you need to know about XEC — the highly transmissible strain that has been reported in 29 countries.

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.

The NHS has urged people to stay home if they spot three signs of a new strain of Coronavirus. People are being advised to avoid contact amid a spike in Covid cases.

After warnings XEC was heading Down Under, the first case of the highly transmissible variant has now been recorded in Australia.