New Nimbus & Stratus COVID Variants Are Spreading—Here's Why Midlife Women Should Be Concerned

Yahoo

5 days ago

If it seems like more people have been getting COVID-19 lately, it's not your imagination.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections are increasing, or likely increasing, in more than half of the states—and they're not declining in any. At the moment, two new strains of the virus—Nimbus and Stratus—are making the rounds. Both appear to be derivatives of the omicron strain, says Dr. Daniel Egan, an infectious disease physician at Orlando Health.
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A key symptom of the Nimbus strain is a severe sore throat that many are calling 'razor blade throat,' says Dr. Bernadette Boden-Albala, an epidemiologist and the director and founding dean of the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. 'This very sore throat is also associated with a raspy or strained voice,' she explains. 'Other common symptoms mirror previous COVID strains like runny nose, headache, difficulty breathing and fatigue.'
After contracting COVID in late June, I can confirm that 'razor blade throat' is an accurate descriptor for what you experience with this strain. It felt like there were sharp knives lining the inside of my throat, which was the symptom that prompted me to take a COVID test in the first place—especially with the rise in cases this summer.
But this isn't like the summer waves of the past few years, when COVID vaccines were readily available to everyone. In May, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials announced that annual COVID-19 boosters will be limited to people aged 65 and older, and those with certain medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe infection. This new policy leaves millions of midlife women without up-to-date protection from the vaccine.
Not only that, but the threat of long COVID very much still exists—especially for women. In fact, a recently published peer-reviewed study found that women had a three-fold higher risk of being diagnosed with long COVID, and the risk rises more with age.
Here's what to know about this year's summer COVID wave and why midlife women should be concerned.
What Is Causing COVID Cases to Spike?
The Nimbus and Stratus variants have mutations that help them dodge prior immunity, so they spread easily, says Dr. Julio Baute, a physician and the clinical content and evidence-based medicine consultant at Invigor Medical. While these two variants are responsible for the majority of COVID cases in the U.S. this summer, there is no evidence that they're more severe than previous Omicron strains, he explains.
Egan says that he's seen a few more cases than usual in his hospital, but overall, he's not seeing infected patients transferred to the ICU.
According to Boden-Albala, we're seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases this summer because of a combination of seasonal factors. 'Just like other respiratory viruses, COVID-19 tends to spread more easily when people are spending more time indoors—often to escape the heat—in close contact with others and in air-conditioned spaces with limited ventilation,' she explains. 'Traveling by air, large gatherings and relaxed precautions also contribute to increased transmission.'
On top of that, people tend to ignore their symptoms during the summer, and instead of staying home to recover, they continue on with their activities, potentially getting sicker as well as spreading the virus, Boden-Albala notes. 'While many people have some immunity from past infection or vaccination, the virus continues to evolve, and even mild cases can have serious ripple effects, particularly for those who are immunocompromised or at higher risk,' she adds.
What About COVID Vaccines?
Here's where things get tricky.
Although the FDA no longer recommends COVID boosters for healthy people under the age of 65, Boden-Albala says that 'most pharmacies are still providing vaccine boosters,' so you should check around and get a booster if you haven't had one in a while. According to the World Health Organization, the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against the new variants as far as preventing severe disease. Additionally, vaccination is associated with a lower risk of long COVID, Baute says. That's even more reason to get a booster if you can.
Is Long COVID Still a Threat?
In short, yes—especially for women, who are disproportionately affected by the constellation of symptoms and conditions. In other words, if you contract COVID, there's still a chance of ending up with long COVID—though staying up-to-date with vaccinations does reduce that risk.
A recent study exploring the association between female gender and long COVID syndrome also demonstrated that 'advanced age was associated with ongoing fatigue and musculoskeletal pain, or impairment in pulmonary functions, reflecting a decline in organ function and a slower ability to recover,' Boden-Albala points out.
Although it's still unclear why women are more likely to end up with long COVID, this is in line with women being disproportionately impacted by other chronic conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis.
'The scientific community is unraveling the role hormones play in perpetuating the severity of COVID, even after recovery,' Boden-Albala says. According to Baute, sex-based immune responses, hormone influences, differences in autoimmune susceptibility and social factors may contribute to the fact that women are more likely to end up with long COVID than men. 'Evidence is suggestive, not conclusive, but more studies are needed,' he says.
As one of the millions of Americans living with long COVID, I can assure you that you don't want to end up with any of the more than 200 symptoms associated with the condition, like constant exhaustion, cognitive issues, exercise intolerance, persistent headaches, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, a fast or irregular heartbeat, depression and anxiety. While treatments are available to help manage the symptoms, there's currently no cure for long COVID.
The best way to avoid long COVID is by not contracting COVID in the first place.
How Can Midlife Women Protect Themselves Against COVID?
The best way to protect yourself against COVID is to stay up-to-date with your vaccines, if possible, Boden-Albala says. 'The updated COVID-19 vaccines are designed to target circulating variants more effectively,' she explains. 'Staying current offers the best protection against severe illness, especially for people with higher risk factors such as midlife hormonal changes that can impact immunity or pre-existing health conditions.'
Even though the FDA is limiting COVID-19 vaccines to those aged 65 and older, there is a way around the new restriction: people with certain risk factors will still be allowed to get regular boosters. The FDA's list of eligible conditions, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine along with the rest of the guidelines, are exceptionally vague, to the point where many people can claim eligibility based on obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) or 'physical inactivity.'
Whether or not you're able to get a COVID booster, Baute recommends layered risk-reduction strategies, like ventilating rooms, masking in crowded indoor spaces during surges, testing early if symptomatic and seeking treatment promptly if you're at higher risk of contracting the infection.
Additionally, do what you can to keep your immune system strong.
'Midlife women often juggle caregiving, careers, and hormonal shifts that can strain the immune system,' Boden-Albala says. 'Maintaining a strong baseline of health through proper sleep, exercise, nutrient-rich food and stress reduction can support immune resilience.'
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