Cases of a new COVID variant have been reported in the UK. The strain has been dubbed ‘Stratus’ and there are two variants in circulation – XFG and the spin-off XFG.3
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus variants currently account for just over 30% of COVID cases in England, up from 10% in May.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that XFG is growing rapidly globally and is thought to be slightly more infectious than previous variants.
However, experts suggest there is no need to be unduly worried. The UKHSA says Stratus does not appear to pose any greater risk to health than other strains, and COVID cases in general are decreasing compared to recent weeks.
“Based on the available information so far, there is no evidence to suggest that the XFG and XFG.3 variants cause more severe disease than previous variants, or that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against them,” Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, told Yahoo UK.
“It is normal for viruses to mutate and change over time. UKHSA is monitoring all available data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in our regular Flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports.”
What is Stratus or the XFG COVID variant?
Stratus is a descendant of the Omicron COVID variant. It is a recombinant strain, sometimes called a ‘Frankenstein’ strain. This means it emerged when a person was infected with two COVID variants at once, creating a new hybrid variant.
XFG has been declared a ‘variant under monitoring’ by the WHO, meaning health authorities across the world have been asked to help track it to determine any public health implications.
However, while the variant is said to spread rapidly, the WHO has classed it as ‘low risk’ on a global level.
What are the symptoms of the new COVID variant?
There isn’t enough evidence yet to suggest this strain has any symptoms that might differentiate it from others.
However, one doctor said that, while symptoms vary from person to person, the Stratus variant may be associated with hoarseness.
“One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice,” Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and Founder of Hannah London Clinic, told Cosmopolitan. “Regardless of whether the symptoms mimic a cold or flu, testing continues to be the critical step in eliminating the possibility of a coronavirus infection,” he added.
According to the NHS, common symptoms of COVID can include:
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a high temperature or shivering
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a new, continuous cough
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a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
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shortness of breath
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Feelings of fatigue or exhaustion
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headache
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sore throat
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blocked or runny nose
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loss of appetite
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diarrhoea
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feeling sick or vomiting
How prevalent is COVID in the UK?
The UKHSA says that “COVID-19 activity decreased across most indicators” in the week ending 29 June and was at baseline levels.
COVID hospital admissions in England dropped to 0.99 per 100,000 compared to 1.46 the week before. And the number of people tested in GP surgeries who returned positive results fell to 7.8% from 8.8%.
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