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, unlike some previous, more highly mutated strains that worried experts.

The new and contagious XEC COVID-19 variant is spreading rapidly in several countries. Will it cause a surge in the U.S.? What to know about symptoms, vaccines and more

It's called XEC. The variant has been spotted around the world and in half of the United States. So far officials are not raising concern about it -- the way they did with other variants that were more mutated.