A novel form of Covid, named ‘Stratus,’ is rapidly spreading with a distinguishing primary symptom. This new strain, comprising two variants – XFG and XFG.3, was initially identified in January this year.
By June, the World Health Organization (WHO) had flagged XFG due to its escalating global prevalence. On September 3, the UK Health Security Agency reported a concerning 7.1 percent surge in coronavirus cases across England compared to the prior week, although the exact contribution of the XFG strain remains unclear.
Commonly, Covid indications can mirror those of typical respiratory illnesses like the flu, encompassing symptoms such as fever, cough, sneezing, or a runny nose. Symptom severity varies from mild to severe from person to person.
Nevertheless, the primary distinctive symptom of Stratus is often an initial hoarse or raspy voice, preceding conventional Covid symptoms. This unique early indicator may go unnoticed easily.
In Ireland, experts recorded 425 fresh infections in the initial week of September, largely attributed to the XFG variant. Medical professionals have also observed a range of other symptoms, including nasal congestion, sore throats, digestive issues, and extreme fatigue.
Dr. Nye disclosed to the Mirror, “In many aspects, it resembles typical cases. However, individuals with this variant commonly experience pronounced sore throats and hoarseness, distinct from the more general symptoms like cough, fever, and body aches.”
He cautioned further, stating, “This variant appears more adept at causing illness and potentially evading prior immunity, diminishing the efficacy of previous vaccines. Hence, regular vaccination against the latest coronavirus strains becomes even more crucial, akin to updating your phone for optimized performance.”
Meanwhile, infectious disease specialist Dr. Peter Chin-Hong from the University of California, San Francisco, highlighted that Stratus exhibits a broader spectrum of symptoms compared to earlier variants. He remarked to SFGATE, “There is a noticeable increase in sore throats among specific demographics, especially the elderly without prior vaccination.”
He added, “Given its heightened transmissibility, a significant portion of the population is expected to contract it, especially with schools reopening, where even minor symptoms could potentially indicate a Covid infection.”
