A new strain of coronavirus is spreading rapidly across the UK, with a doctor revealing the main symptoms to watch out for. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) first identified the new strain, known as ‘Stratus’, in January and by June, it had been placed “under monitoring” by the World Health Organisation (WHO) due to “increasing proportions globally”. Just over 1,600 cases of Covid were reported in the first week of September according to UKHSA data, marking a rise of 7.6%, although it’s unclear how many were caused by the new strain, which has two variants – XFG and XFG.3.
While symptoms of Covid can easily be mistaken for a cold or flu virus, Dr Gareth Nye, from the University of Salford, has highlighted symptoms linked to the Stratus strain in particular. “In most ways, it’s almost identical [to other Covid strains],” he said. “However, some 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,” Dr Nye told The Mirror.
“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.”
While Covid has become a highly common disease, the doctor said it is still important to take precautions if you think you could be infected, including testing yourself and self-isolating to avoid spreading it to vulnerable older people or those with existing medical conditions whose health could be compromised.
Infectious disease expert Dr Peter Chin-Hong from the University of California also warned that the Stratus variant includes a “wider range” of symptoms than previous strains.
“There’s a little bit more [of] sore throats with some people,” he told SFGATE. “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.”
The NHS will offer a free vaccine booster to certain groups from October, with the aim of protecting those at the highest risk of health complications. Those eligible will include adults aged over 75, residents in care homes for older adults and those who are immunosuppressed and aged six months and over.