By Amy Jones,Fionnuala Boyle
Copyright dailyrecord
The peak of the coronavirus pandemic was a dark time for the world. But more than five years on from the initial outbreak, a fresh strain of Covid is spreading swiftly, and it presents a unique symptom to be mindful of. There’s mounting worry over the proliferation of the new Covid variant, dubbed ‘Stratus’ , which has two forms, XFG and XFG. 3. It was initially identified in January this year, and by June, the World Health Organisation (WHO) categorised XFG as ‘under monitoring’ due to its ‘increasing proportions globally’. By 3 September, the UK Health Security Agency noted a 7.1 per cent increase in coronavirus cases across England compared to the previous week, although it’s uncertain how many are linked to the XFG variant. Health professionals in Ireland also logged 425 new infections in the first week of September, with the XFG variant reportedly responsible for the majority of new cases, reports the Mirror . Typically, Covid symptoms mimic those of common respiratory illnesses like the flu, including fever, cough, sneezing or a runny nose. Symptoms fluctuate from case to case, with some experiencing minor to severe signs. However, the most frequent initial symptom of Stratus is a hoarse or raspy voice, which can precede more traditional Covid symptoms. Due to this unusual early sign, it can be easily missed. Medical experts have also documented a range of additional symptoms , such as blocked noses, sore throats, digestive problems and fatigue. 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. “Illnesses always see spikes as children go back to school , as close contact and often lower personal hygiene levels mix.” He went on: “This version is more likely to make you sick, however, as they appear to be able to avoid your immune system even if you’ve had it before. “[This] makes prior vaccines less useful, which makes regular vaccination against the latest coronavirus even more important. Think of it like updating your phone to get the best possible experience.” Infectious disease specialist Dr Peter Chin-Hong from the University of California, San Francisco, also warned that Stratus exhibits a “wider range of symptoms” compared to earlier variants. Speaking to SFGATE, he clarified: “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.” It comes as a GP urges people to adopt three changes as the virus continues its spread across the UK, suggesting that these protective measures could help shield individuals from infection. Dr Kader utilised his TikTok platform, known as ask.doctor.k, to outline precisely what the public should understand regarding the symptoms.
