
Major health warning as doctors warn of fast-spreading Covid 19 strain with ‘unusual symptoms' – 16 signs to watch for
HEALTH bosses have issued a major warning to the Irish public after a new strain of fast-spreading Covid-19 was spotted.
A new variant of the same viral infection that caused the 2020
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The new strain has unusual symptoms
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People who who the symptoms outlined should stay at home
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It's been discovered in both the Republic of Ireland and
And it's been reported in Hong Kong and
New data from the Public
And the
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They recently added NB.1.8.1. to their watchlist, although they noted that while the strain is more transmissible than strain before, there is no evidence to suggest the symptoms are any worse.
But public health officials have urged members of the public who are feeling unwell to stay at
And
Although older Covid strains caused flu and cold like symptoms, the new strain to more closely linked to gastrointestinal issues.
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Most read in The Irish Sun
This can lead to issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and heartburn.
Associate Professor and Virology Research Leader at Griffith University, Dr Lara Herrero, explained: "Common symptoms [of NB.1.8.1] include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion."
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She added that gastrointestinal issues may also occur in some cases.
The full list of symptoms of the new Covid variant have been outlined, with those suffering from them urged to stay home for 48 hours or until they feel better.
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The first symptom is a high fever of 38C or above, including having chills or cold sweats.
A second symptom is a dry cough, a burning cough which can irritate your throat and requires lots of water to soothe.
Fatigue, tiredness, and a change to your sense of smell and taste are also among the symptoms.
Another indicator is a runny or blocked nose, a sore throat, or a headache.
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Conjunctivitis, also called pink eye, is another symptom.
And having muscle of joint pain or an unusual rash could be a sign that you have the new strain.
Diziness, chills, and loss of appetite are also among the symptoms.
Lastly, shortness of breath, confusion, and pain or pressure in the chest could also be indicators that you have contracted the new strain.
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Symptoms to watch out for
Here are the 16 signs to watch out for
A high fever
Dry cough
Fatigue
Change to sense of smell or taste
Runny or blocked nose
A sore throat
A headache
Conjunctivitis
Muscle of joint pain
Unusual rash
Dizziness
Chills
Loss of appetite
Shortness of breath
Confusion
Pain or pressure in chest
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The new strain is 'fast-spreading'
Credit: Getty

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Irish Examiner
42 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
ieExplains: What is the new covid variant and is it in Ireland?
Is there a new strain of covid? Yes. It is called NB.1.8.1, and is a sub-variant of the Omicron variant. Omicron was the dominant strain in Ireland at the end of 2021 and 2022. The new strain was first detected in January 2025. What is the new strain? In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the NB.1.8.1 strain of covid as a 'variant under monitoring", and the public health risk posed by it is "evaluated as low at the global level". It said: "Currently, approved covid vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease. "Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data does not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation." The new strain comprised of 13.6% of all cases in the week ending May 18. While the percentage remains low, this is an increase from 0.7% in the week ending April 20. Have there been any cases in Ireland yet? Yes. As of June 9, there are 19 cases linked to this variant of the virus detected in Ireland. The first case was detected here on April 16. In the five-week period from April 20 to May 24, the new strain accounted for 13.6% of all sequenced cases — compared to 4.3% in the previous five weeks. Those figures are based on GISAid sequence data. GISAid is a global science initiative that monitors and provides access to data on influenza viruses. In response to a query from the Irish Examiner, the HSE said that based on WHO data and on the mutation profile, there is no evidence of increased severity or impact on vaccine effectiveness against severe disease. The HSE added that since the end of March 2025, levels of covid have shown a slow but steady increase. However, "levels of hospitalisations, ICU admissions, and deaths remain low". Is it the only covid variant? No. There are still multiple covid variants. In a statement last week, the WHO said that the variants "continue to evolve". They said: "Between January and May 2025, there were shifts in global SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics. At the beginning of the year, the most prevalent variant tracked by WHO at the global level was XEC, followed by KP.3.1.1. "In February, circulation of XEC began to decline while that of LP.8.1 increased, with the latter becoming the most detected variant in mid-March. Since mid-April, the circulation of LP.8.1 has been slightly declining as NB.1.8.1 is increasingly being detected." At the moment, six variants are being tracked. What are the symptoms of the new covid variant? Common symptoms align with typical Omicron subvariants from the height of the pandemic in 2021. They include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and a sore throat. Writing in The Conversation, Australian virologist Lara Herrero said: "The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data. "But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants." The WHO does note that the global public health risk associated with covid remains high. There has been evidence of "decreasing impact on human health" throughout 2023 and 2024. The HSE has said that anyone with covid symptoms, even mild ones, should stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms are mostly or fully gone. People should also avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk of severe covid.


The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
New fat jabs warning over ‘increased risk of cancer – as experts fear they ‘stop common medication working'
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Data from 2023-24 showed that 2.6 million women in England rely on the drugs to alleviate hot flushes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping and mood changes. "During the last two years, since semaglutide and tirzepatide [the active ingredients in Wegovy and Mounjaro] received licenses for weight loss, there has been an increase in uptake of these medications through private clinics, while NHS prescribing is limited to specialist weight management services," the BMS guidance stated. "There are no current data available about numbers of women receiving HRT concurrently with semaglutide or tirzepatide." Advertisement Most read in Health The most common form of HRT is a progesterone pill alongside a skin patch or gel to deliver oestrogen, but some people opt for a combined pill. Progesterone balances out the effects of oestrogen, which on its own stimulates the growth of the womb lining, and can cause 'abnormal cells and cancer' to grow. 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'If we then start one of these injectable weight-loss drugs, then you're preferentially stopping absorption of the progestogen that's coming in orally, but you're allowing plenty of the oestrogen through the skin. 'The rules are very clear that if you give a very high dose of oestrogen and you don't give enough progesterone, however that happens, you're putting that woman at risk of womb cancer." Advertisement Prof Mukherjee added there was currently a 'culture of putting women on very high doses of oestrogen', which can make the womb lining thicken. 'It's like having a lawn in a woman's womb. Oestrogen makes the lawn grow. Progestogen cuts the lawn. But if it's not being cut, it grows thicker, and then you can get abnormal cells and cancer,' she said. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. But she also stressed that the biggest risk factor for womb cancer was obesity - meaning that on the whole, weight loss jabs can cut the risk of disease. Advertisement 'These drugs reduce the risk of cancer,' Prof Mukherjee said. 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4 hours ago
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