Covid symptom warning as new variant mimics common summer illness
Covid is surging again, and doctors are warning that a new strain could be easily mistaken for hay fever or a tummy bug - especially as summer symptoms spike.
The variant, known as NB.1.8.1 and unofficially nicknamed Nimbus, has now been detected across Ireland. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently added it to its watch list after it jumped from just 2.5% of global infections in March to over 10% by late April.
While there's no evidence the strain causes more severe illness, the WHO says it may be more contagious - and it's spreading fast.
According to data from Ireland's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), NB.1.8.1 accounted for 14% of all sequenced cases in Ireland over the past five weeks.
The HSE body also reported a worrying rise in confirmed Covid cases across all variants - from 152 three weeks ago to 332 in the most recent week.
Doctors are seeing a noticeable shift in symptoms compared to previous waves. While older variants typically presented like a bad cold or flu, NB.1.8.1 is now being linked to stomach-related issues, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea constipation, bloating, abdominal pain and even heartburn.
Dr Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Virology Research Leader at Griffith University, explained: "Common symptoms [of NB.1.8.1] include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases."
And with hay fever in full swing across Ireland - alongside "high" pollen counts forecast for all four provinces this weekend by Met Eireann - many people may not realise they actually have Covid.
Both hay fever and Covid can cause sneezing, nasal congestion, headaches and even affect your sense of smell. But there are key differences.
Dr Luke Powles, clinical director at Bupa, says a fever is a telltale sign. He explained: "Despite hay fever being more common during the spring and summer, some people are affected by pollen from March to September. This can make it harder to tell if sniffs and sneezes are being caused by an allergy or an infection such as coronavirus."
He clarified that it is "not likely" for you to experience a raised temperature as a result of hay fever, adding: "Although a blocked nose due to hay fever can affect your smell or taste, completely losing your ability to taste or smell is more likely to result from coronavirus."
The doctor stated that Covid tends to make people feel more unwell overall, explaining: "Hay fever symptoms aren't usually serious and, generally, you won't feel too ill."
Irish people who find themselves unwell with gastrointestinal issues or hay fever may actually have Covid, according to the HSE.
Ireland's public health guidelines remain the same: If you have any symptoms of Covid, stay at home until 48 hours after the symptoms are mostly or fully gone. You should also avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from Covid.
The HSE is reminding the public of the wide range of Covid symptoms to look out for. These include:
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