By Owen Evans,Ryan Fahey
Copyright dailypost
A new Covid variant is now dominant in Wales, and patients have reported one key early symptom to look out for. The Stratus variant of Covid is now thought to be the cause of most new cases of the virus.
The variant, known officially as XFG, accounted for an average of 34% of recorded cases in Wales in a four-week period up to the week of August 18.
A subvariant, named as XFG.3, accounted for 27% of cases over the same period. Over the summer, they became the two dominant strains in the country, according to Public Health Wales data.
The World Health Organisation said Stratus is a “variant under monitoring”. It is not thought the new variant produces a more severe illness, but it can spread faster than earlier strains. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
A subtle, early symptom has been reported, which people may shake off without realising they have the virus. People have reported having a hoarse or raspy voice before the classic Covid indicators like a fever or a cough arrive.
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.”
Other symptoms, including nasal congestion, sore throats, stomach upsets and fatigue have also been logged by doctors.
Dr Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California San Francisco, warned that Stratus presents a “wider range of symptoms” than previous variants, reports The Mirror.
He told SFGATE: “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.”
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 three 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
The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover.
For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
