One very painful symptom shows you have highly transmissible new Covid strain
Members of the public are being urged to be on alert amid a surge in cases of a highly transmissible new Covid-19 variant.
The variant, NB.1.8.1, has been informally dubbed 'Nimbus' and has been identified in 22 countries so far after first being detected at the end of January.
Derived from the highly virulent Omicron variant, 'Nimbus' was responsible for approximately 10.7 per cent of global infections by late April, up from just 2.5 per cent a month earlier.
The new strain has been declared a "variant under monitoring" by the World Health Organization (WHO), meaning that it could change the behaviours of the virus.
A study published in May noted that NB.1.8.1's mutations may allow it to bind better to human cells, which could make it more transmissible and give it the 'potential for future dominance" over other variants.
Although health experts say 'Nimbus' symptoms are generally similar to previous versions of the virus, patients have all been reporting one specific symptom as the variant spreads across Europe and beyond.
Patients have reported this new variant giving them 'razor blade throat', a very sore throat which has left some people with a hoarse voice.
According to Dr Naveed Asif, a family doctor at The London General Practice, this distinctive symptom is characterised by a sharp, stabbing pain when swallowing, often in the back of the throat.
Some patients in China, which has seen a surge in cases in recent weeks, have described the pain as akin to 'swallowing shattered glass,' with some saying they've been left unable to speak, eat, or even stay hydrated.
While sore throat has always varied in intensity among Covid-19 patients, the Nimbus variant has brought this symptom to the forefront due to its severity.
Other signs of the new strain include common Covid symptoms like fever, muscle aches and congestion as well as redness in the back of the mouth and swollen neck glands.
While previous strains largely caused cold and flu like symptoms, this new variant has been linked to gastrointestinal issues in some patients - which can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and even heartburn.
While symptoms are generally mild to moderate, individuals with pre-existing conditions, unvaccinated persons, people with weakened immunity and older adults are at a higher risk of serious illness.
Health officials say that current Covid jabs remain effective against this variant and protect anyone infected from severe illness.
"Treatment for Nimbus generally aligns with that for other Covid-19 variants," said Dr Asif.
"Most individuals will recover at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications for symptom management.
"For those with severe symptoms or high-risk complications, antiviral medications or monoclonal antibody treatments may be recommended. Always consult your GP for personalised advice."
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Irish Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
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One very painful symptom shows you have highly transmissible new Covid strain
Members of the public are being urged to be on alert amid a surge in cases of a highly transmissible new Covid-19 variant. The variant, NB.1.8.1, has been informally dubbed 'Nimbus' and has been identified in 22 countries so far after first being detected at the end of January. Derived from the highly virulent Omicron variant, 'Nimbus' was responsible for approximately 10.7 per cent of global infections by late April, up from just 2.5 per cent a month earlier. The new strain has been declared a "variant under monitoring" by the World Health Organization (WHO), meaning that it could change the behaviours of the virus. A study published in May noted that NB.1.8.1's mutations may allow it to bind better to human cells, which could make it more transmissible and give it the 'potential for future dominance" over other variants. Although health experts say 'Nimbus' symptoms are generally similar to previous versions of the virus, patients have all been reporting one specific symptom as the variant spreads across Europe and beyond. Patients have reported this new variant giving them 'razor blade throat', a very sore throat which has left some people with a hoarse voice. According to Dr Naveed Asif, a family doctor at The London General Practice, this distinctive symptom is characterised by a sharp, stabbing pain when swallowing, often in the back of the throat. Some patients in China, which has seen a surge in cases in recent weeks, have described the pain as akin to 'swallowing shattered glass,' with some saying they've been left unable to speak, eat, or even stay hydrated. While sore throat has always varied in intensity among Covid-19 patients, the Nimbus variant has brought this symptom to the forefront due to its severity. Other signs of the new strain include common Covid symptoms like fever, muscle aches and congestion as well as redness in the back of the mouth and swollen neck glands. While previous strains largely caused cold and flu like symptoms, this new variant has been linked to gastrointestinal issues in some patients - which can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and even heartburn. While symptoms are generally mild to moderate, individuals with pre-existing conditions, unvaccinated persons, people with weakened immunity and older adults are at a higher risk of serious illness. Health officials say that current Covid jabs remain effective against this variant and protect anyone infected from severe illness. "Treatment for Nimbus generally aligns with that for other Covid-19 variants," said Dr Asif. "Most individuals will recover at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications for symptom management. "For those with severe symptoms or high-risk complications, antiviral medications or monoclonal antibody treatments may be recommended. Always consult your GP for personalised advice."
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