By Amy Jones

Copyright mirror

As we head into the colder months, many Brits will be battling seasonal illnesses with autumn colds and the flu doing the rounds again. And now experts have warned that there’s a triple threat as a new Covid strain has casued a spike in cases. Known for causing a hoarse voice – a more unusual first symptom – people who have caught the new variant have explained what it’s like. The new Covid strain, known as Stratus, has been spreading rapidly with two variants: XFG and XFG. 3. In the UK, there has been a significant rise in confirmed Covid cases, with data revealing that in the space of a week, it has surged from 7.6 per cent to 8.4 per cent. In addition, the XFG. 3 variant made up around 40 per cent of Covid cases in the UK as of June, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). As Covid cases surge across the globe, one woman has detailed her experience and symptoms after testing positive for the virus earlier this month. While she explained she’s had Covid on numerous occasions, she labelled this time as the “worst it’s ever been”. In a TikTok video, Nev (@nivismad) explained that she started feeling unwell on August 30 with a “little bit of congestion” while one side of her nose was “blocked”. She explained: “Then my throat was a little bit scratchy.” The following day, she was “still congested but nothing crazy”, but things took a turn in the evening. Explaining her worrying symproms, she said: “When I went to bed that night, my teeth were hurting, my jaw was hurting, and my head hurt really bad.” The most common initial sign of the new Stratus strain is a hoarse or raspy voice, a key difference from former Covid variants. Medical experts have also noted that additional Stratus symptoms can include blocked noses, sore throats, digestive issues and exhaustion. Nev’s symptoms continued the next day as she explained she suffered from “debilitating fatigue”, and “couldn’t stand” because she felt so “exhausted”. Later that day, she was suffering from “major body aches and major chills” and shared, “I was so uncomfortable”. After detailing her symptoms, she said: “I have had Covid quite a few times. It’s been a year or two since I’ve had it last, but this is the worst it’s ever been.” She shared the video earlier this month, while on day three or four of Covid, and said she was “still exhausted”, adding that “standing up is work”. In the caption, she wrote: “Luckily I can taste and smell and I have no cough, but my god these are the worst body aches/chills I’ve ever had in my life. Stay safe out there y’all. I am also pretty sure I got it from a woman on my flight to Mexico, because she was sitting behind me on the way there and was coughing the entire time with no mask on.” Luckily, Nev made a full recovery and was back in the gym in a few days. However, the video was met with comments from others who had experienced similar Covid symptoms, unlike anything before. One wrote: “The teeth pain was terrible!! Never had that symptom til this time around.” A second commented: “I had all this then the worst sore throat I’ve ever experienced just kicked in i don’t know what is going on i feel like im swallowing knives.” “I started with a scratchy throat, then sneezing and runny nose. day 7 and I have the same fatigue you talked about. I am dizzy. is actually scary,” a third noted. While a fourth added: “Teeth pain, body aches, headache it sucksss.” Typically, Covid symptoms are similar to those of common respiratory illnesses like the flu, including fever, cough, sneezing or a runny nose. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on the person, so it’s easy to mistake Covid for a common cold. On the new Covid strain, Stratus, Dr Nye told The Mirror: “In most ways, it’s almost identical. However, people with this version tend to get very sore throats and a hoarse voice, compared with the other more general symptoms like cough, temperature and aches.”