Researchers indicate that the vaccine and booster shots should protect against the new variant. Here is what we know about the XEC variant and what you can do to stay healthy.

U.S. health officials are monitoring a new COVID variant, XEC, that has been identified in half the states in the country. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder has more.

The symptoms of XEC may vary slightly from typical COVID-19, but the public health advice will likely be the same, experts say.

COVID-19 variant trackers are now closely watching the rise of a new virus variant called XEC, which has been spotted around the world and in half of states across the United States. Health officials are so far not raising concern about this variant,

The new "XEC" COVID-19 variant spreading rapidly in Europe has arrived in the US. What are the symptoms, will it cause a fall surge, and are vaccines effective? Experts discuss

At the end of June this year, a new variant of COVID-19 labelled XEC, was detected for the first time in Germany and India. Its appearance in other countries is inevitable. The British "Independent" reported on Wednesday that XEC was detected in over 500 samples collected for testing.

The XEC COVID variant has spread rapidly in some European countries, and it's now been reported in some U.S. states. But experts said there's no reason to think it poses a new threat.