New Covid variant has terrifying unique symptom that causes it to evade vaccine antibodies
The new Covid variant, officially known as XFG and dubbed Stratus, has become the dominant strain in England within weeks, with medics warning it is evading existing immunity
A new Covid variant, known as Stratus and officially designated XFG, is swiftly overtaking other strains, with health experts raising alarms about its ability to evade immunity gained from past infections or vaccinations.
This variant has quickly become dominant, outpacing others within a matter of weeks.
Last month, medical professionals were focused on a different strain called Nimbus, which was spreading rapidly and causing extremely painful sore throats likened to razor blades, among other Covid symptoms. However, Stratus has now taken the lead, presenting a unique symptom that sets it apart.
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The rise of Stratus has been meteoric, with its infection rates soaring in just one month due to its knack for infecting those who have previously had Covid or been vaccinated. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that Stratus is now the leading Covid variant in England.
In May, Stratus accounted for 10 percent of Covid cases, but by mid-June, this figure had jumped to 40 percent. Currently, two subvariants of Stratus, XFG and XFG.
Dr Kaywaan Khan, founder of Hannah London Clinic, shared insights with Cosmopolitan UK: "Unlike other variants, Stratus has certain mutations in the spike protein which could help it evade antibodies developed from prior infections or vaccinations."
Dr Khan observed that Stratus does not seem to cause more severe illness than earlier strains. However, he highlighted a distinct symptom, stating: "One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice."
Dr Khan noted that Stratus symptoms generally tend to be mild to moderate in severity.
He cautioned: "If you test positive, Stratus is highly contagious, and it is advised to stay home and isolate to avoid spreading to others."
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told MailOnline: " The increased competitiveness of XFG and XFG.3 is likely due to new spike mutations which make these variants more able to evade the immune response. Given that immunity to Covid is waning in the population due to a decline in uptake of the spring booster jab and the reduction of Covid infections in recent months, more people will be susceptible to infection with XFG and XFG.3.
"This could lead to a new wave of infection but it's difficult to predict the extent of this wave."
The World Health Organisation has labelled Stratus as a 'variant under monitoring,' indicating its close observation of the strain's spread. It currently represents 22 per cent of all global cases.
Stratus' emergence closely follows another variant, Nimbus, known for causing severe sore throats, which now constitutes 17 per cent of all tested cases in the UK. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical Director for NHS England, observed: "The variant looks to be spreading rapidly within communities, with top symptoms being a 'razor blade' sore throat and swollen neck glands."
