A medical professional has raised an alarm regarding a novel rapidly spreading Covid variant that displays unusual early symptoms.
Concern has been mounting over the proliferation of the new Covid strain dubbed ‘Stratus,’ featuring two variants, XFG and XFG.3.
Initially identified in January of this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified XFG as ‘under monitoring’ by June due to its escalating global prevalence.
The XFG variant has swiftly disseminated across Ireland in recent days, constituting 73% of all confirmed Covid cases nationwide last week.
As of September 3, the UK Health Security Agency reported a 7.1% surge in Coronavirus cases in England compared to the previous week, with unclear data on the impact of the XFG strain.
Stratus exhibits faster transmission rates than previous strains and may manifest with slight variations in patients. Understanding the key symptoms and preventive measures to curb infection rates is crucial.
Dr. Kader, a medical influencer on TikTok (@ask.doctor.k), highlighted that this new strain affects the digestive system alongside typical Covid symptoms.
Dr. Kader emphasized, “The new Covid variant, Stratus or XFG, presents distinctive symptoms compared to earlier variants. It commonly initiates with ear, nose, and throat issues, such as hoarseness or severe sore throat. Additionally, gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, bloating, and acid reflux are prevalent.”
While noting that Stratus tends to cause milder infections, Dr. Kader cautioned about its heightened contagiousness, attributing the rapid spread to changing weather conditions and increased indoor activities facilitating virus transmission.
Dr. Kader recommended three essential steps to minimize infection risks and advised individuals feeling unwell to stay home until symptoms improve, as reported by the Irish Mirror.
Public vigilance for all 18 recognized Covid symptoms is also advised to promptly identify potential cases.