3 days ago
Covid symptoms you can't ignore as supercharged variant behind nearly every case
Ireland is facing a surge in Covid cases linked to a fast-spreading new variant with subtle symptoms that could easily go unnoticed.
In the past week alone, 461 new cases were reported nationwide, with health officials pointing to the XFG variant - also called Stratus - as the main driver.
The latest figures from Ireland's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show the variant's share of confirmed cases has skyrocketed from 33% six weeks ago to 87.5% this week, meaning it now accounts for nearly every confirmed Covid case in the country.
According to the HPSC, nine counties reported more than 20 new cases in the past week. Dublin led the way with 108 cases, followed by Cork with 47, Limerick with 34, Galway with 33, Tipperary with 29, Kerry with 23, Waterford and Donegal with 21 each and Wexford with 20.
At the other end of the scale, Longford recorded no new cases, while Mayo had 1, Monaghan had 2, Leitrim had 3, Kilkenny and Roscommon had 5 each, and Carlow and Sligo had 7 each.
The World Health Organization has flagged Stratus as a "variant under monitoring", warning that while it may not cause more severe illness, it appears to spread faster - which is apparent in Ireland's latest figures.
Doctors are also reporting new, subtle symptoms. A hoarse or raspy voice has emerged as an early sign, sometimes appearing before more classic Covid symptoms, making it easier for the virus to spread undetected. Harley Street GP Dr Kaywaan Khan told Cosmopolitan UK that "one of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice."
The timing of this rise in Stratus cases coincides with the massive Oasis concerts held at Croke Park over the weekend, where more than 160,000 fans packed in for the band's Live 25 reunion shows. Health experts had warned that such large gatherings could increase the risk of transmission.
Akash Sood from Knightswood Pharmacy advised: "New strands of Covid can infect thousands within metres of one another, so wear a mask if concerned, be safe and enjoy the return of Oasis."
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: fever (high temperature - 38C or above) - including having chills
dry cough
fatigue (tiredness)
loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this could mean they're completely gone or just different to normal
nasal congestion (runny or blocked nose)
conjunctivitis (also known as red eye or pink eye)
sore throat
headache
muscle or joint pain (aches and pains)
different types of skin rash
nausea or vomiting
diarrhoea
chills
dizziness
shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
loss of appetite
confusion
pain or pressure in the chest.
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