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    Your bug is ‘likely Covid’ says doctor as new variant spreads rapidly across UK

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    By Fionnuala Boyle,Ryan Fahey

    Copyright glasgowlive

    Your bug is 'likely Covid' says doctor as new variant spreads rapidly across UK

    For many, Covid might seem like a distant memory, but a fresh variant is creeping into the UK unnoticed and triggering symptoms that could easily be overlooked as the new strain spreads rapidly.

    The emerging strain, known as Stratus, comprises two variants, XFG and XFG. 3, with XFG.3 representing 40 per cent of cases in England alone as of June this year.

    The strain is accelerating at an alarming rate with distinct early warning signs, reports the Daily Record.

    The World Health Organisation classifies Stratus as a “variant under monitoring”. Although not thought to trigger more severe illness, it can spread more rapidly than earlier strains. The variant brings with it a subtle, initial symptom that people might brush off rather than recognising it as an illness.

    Stratus’ most common early warning sign is a hoarse or gravelly voice, which later develops into the familiar Covid symptoms like a temperature or a cough.

    Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK, Harley Street GP Dr Kaywaan Khan said: “One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice.”

    Doctors have observed a range of additional symptoms, including blocked noses, painful throats, digestive issues and exhaustion.

    Infectious disease specialist Dr Peter Chin-Hong from the University of California San Francisco warned that Stratus displays a “wider range of symptoms” than earlier variants.

    Speaking to SFGATE, he said: “There’s a little bit more sore throats with some people. Particularly in those who are older, who didn’t get vaccinated last year.

    “It’s more transmissible, so we expect that a lot of people will get it. Particularly with kids going back to school, a sniffle is likely going to be Covid.”

    Despite the appearance of fresh symptoms, the UK’s official Covid guidance remains unaltered.

    The UK Gov website states: “If you have COVID-19 you should try to stay at home. Most people cannot get free COVID-19 tests.

    “You can buy tests in shops but you cannot report the result to the NHS. You can get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the NHS.”

    The NHS has supplied a comprehensive list of conventional Covid-19 symptoms for Britons to watch out for.

    Symptoms of COVID-19

    COVID-19 symptoms can include:

    a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste shortness of breath feeling tired or exhausted an aching body a headache a sore throat a blocked or runny nose loss of appetite diarrhoea feeling sick or being sick

    These symptoms are very similar to those of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.

    Most individuals recover within a few weeks, but recovery may take longer for some. For some people, it can manifest as a more serious illness and their symptoms may linger for an extended period.

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