Latest news with #KaywaanKhan
Dublin Live
9 hours ago
- Health
- Dublin Live
Unique symptom of new Covid variant 'Stratus' confirmed by GP
A GP has flagged up a distinctive symptom of the new Covid variant known as Stratus. The strain, officially termed XFG, is on the rise in neighbouring countries and comes after the Nimbus variant, which was associated with a particularly painful sore throat. Stratus has been identified as the dominant strain in England by the UK Health Security Agency. Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and Founder of Hannah London Clinic, shared that you could test positive for this variant even if you had Covid or you have been vaccinated against the virus. "Unlike other variants, Stratus has certain mutations in the spike protein which could help it evade antibodies developed from prior infections or vaccinations," he informed Cosmopolitan UK, reports RSVP Live. He noted that although Stratus may not make you "more ill" compared to other strains, it does come with a unique symptom. Dr Khan highlighted: "One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice." He categorised the symptoms of Stratus as ranging from "mild to moderate". He advised that if you test positive, given that Stratus is highly contagious, you should stay at home and self-isolate to prevent passing it on. Other symptoms are in line with general Covid symptoms, with HSE listing ones to look out for: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus) are: fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) - including having chills dry cough fatigue (tiredness) COVID-19 symptoms can be like symptoms of cold, flu or hay fever. You may not have all of the symptoms or your symptoms may be mild. Less common symptoms of COVID-19 include: 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 or dizziness Severe symptoms Symptoms of severe COVID‐19 include: shortness of breath or breathing difficulties loss of appetite confusion pain or pressure in the chest fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
New Covid UK Stratus strain 'Frankenstein' type as symptom emerges
Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows Stratus has now become the dominant Covid strain The new highly contagious strain of Covid which is now the most prevalent in the UK has been described as a 'Frankenstein' variant. The World Health Organisation has issued a statement saying the XFG variant, also dubbed 'Stratus', will likely become the dominant variant soon, with symptoms different to the classic heavy cough and tiredness we've come to associate with Covid. Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and Founder of Hannah London Clinic, told Cosmopolitan UK: 'Unlike other variants, Stratus has certain mutations in the spike protein which could help it evade antibodies developed from prior infections or vaccinations. Despite this, it is important to mention that Stratus seems to be no worse than earlier Omicron variants in terms of illness, hospitalisations, or deaths.' Dr Khan said Stratus does not appear to people 'more ill' than previous strains. But he said there is one unique symptom, adding: " One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice." Dr Khan said in general, the symptoms of Stratus tend to be 'mild to moderate'. The latest Covid-19 variant is known as XFG ('Stratus'), which is often called a 'Frankenstein variant' because it's a mix-and-match of different virus types, or has many changes. This basically means it's a new version built from parts of others. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), shows Stratus has now become the dominant Covid strain in England. The variant has gone from accounting for about 10 per cent of all Covid cases in May to almost 40 per cent three weeks later in mid-June. Stratus— a descendent of the already super virulent Omicron —is what is known as a Frankenstein or 'recombinant' strain. This means it emerged when a person was infected with two Covid strains at once which then became a new hybrid variant. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told MailOnline both two strains of Stratus—the original XFG and spin off called XFG.3— are 'rapidly spreading'. 'The increased competitiveness of XFG and XFG.3 is likely due to new spike mutations which make these variants more able to evade the immune response.' he said. 'Given that immunity to Covid is waning in the population due to a decline in uptake of the spring booster jab and the reduction of Covid infections in recent months, more people will be susceptible to infection with XFG and XFG.3. 'This could lead to a new wave of infection but it's difficult to predict the extent of this wave.' However, he added that there is currently no evidence Stratus causes more severe illness and getting a Covid vaccine was 'very likely' to offer protection from severe illness and hospitalisation. 'Frankenstein variant' typically describes strains like Omicron and its descendants, including NB.1.8.1 (nicknamed 'Nimbus') and XFG ('Stratus'),or even hybrids such as 'Deltacron'. Medics have warned that anyone with a 'razor blade' throat could have Nimbus. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical Director for NHS England in the North West recently said: 'The variant looks to be spreading rapidly within communities, with top symptoms being a 'razor blade' sore throat and swollen neck glands.' How are these 'Frankenstein' variants different from other strains? 'Frankenstein' variants, encompassing Omicron and its sub-lineages like 'Nimbus' and 'Stratus', are characterised by a substantial number of mutations, particularly within the spike protein vital for cellular entry. Some, like the 'Deltacron' variants, are literal hybrids, formed through the recombination of different existing strains - Delta and Omicron - within a single infected individual. These extensive genetic alterations can enhance transmissibility and potentially enable immune evasion. Early data from the UK indicates that some of these highly mutated variants, such as BA.2.86, demonstrate similar levels of antibody escape compared to other circulating variants, with no evidence suggesting they cause more severe illness. What are the common symptoms associated with these variants? The symptoms observed with newer COVID-19 variants, including those informally dubbed 'Frankenstein' variants, largely mirror those of previous Omicron subvariants. These commonly include upper respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and sneezing. Other frequently reported symptoms involve fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. While the loss of smell or taste was a more indicative symptom in earlier strains, it appears to be less prevalent in Omicron infections. It is important to remember that symptom presentation can vary widely among individuals.
North Wales Live
a day ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
New Covid Stratus variant becomes dominant in UK with unique symptom
A new Covid variant, known as XFG and dubbed Stratus, is swiftly becoming prevalent in the UK and globally, with experts warning that it's bypassing immunity. The Stratus strain, which has surged to dominance within weeks, reportedly presents a distinctive symptom that sets it apart from other variants. In just a month, Stratus infections have skyrocketed due to its capacity to reinfect those who've previously contracted Covid or have been vaccinated. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus is now the leading Covid variant in England, jumping from 10% of cases in May to 40% by mid-June. Notably, two versions of Stratus are in circulation: XFG and XFG. 3. Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK, Dr Kaywaan Khan, a Harley Street GP and founder of Hannah London Clinic, noted: "Unlike other variants, Stratus has certain mutations in the spike protein which could help it evade antibodies developed from prior infections or vaccinations." Dr Khan also said that Stratus doesn't seem to make people 'more ill' than earlier strains but highlighted a unique symptom: "One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice.", reports Wales Online. Dr Khan said in general, the symptoms of Stratus tend to be 'mild to moderate' Dr Khan said: "If you test positive, Stratus is highly contagious, and it is advised to stay home and isolate to avoid spreading to others." Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told MailOnline: "The increased competitiveness of XFG and XFG.3 is likely due to new spike mutations which make these variants more able to evade the immune response. "Given that immunity to Covid is waning in the population due to a decline in uptake of the spring booster jab and the reduction of Covid infections in recent months, more people will be susceptible to infection with XFG and XFG.3. This could lead to a new wave of infection but it's difficult to predict the extent of this wave." The World Health Organisation has designated Stratis a 'variant under monitoring', meaning it is keeping a close eye on the spread of the strain. It accounts for 22% of all cases around the world. The spread of Stratus follows quickly on the back of another strain - Nimbus - which was reported to give people a very sore throat. That now accounts for 17% of all tested cases in the UK. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical Director for NHS England said: "The variant looks to be spreading rapidly within communities, with top symptoms being a 'razor blade' sore throat and swollen neck glands."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Warning over new Covid Stratus variant in UK that presents distinct symptom
The Covid strain, formally known as XFG and nicknamed Stratus, is said to have one unique symptom that helps identify which variant you have. A new strain of Covid, known as XFG and informally dubbed Stratus, is swiftly spreading across the globe and has been detected in the UK, where it has become the predominant variant within weeks. Experts are concerned that this strain is adept at evading immunity. And a unique symptom of Stratus, which helps distinguish it from other variants, has been identified. The prevalence of Stratus has surged within a single month due to its capacity to infect individuals who have previously contracted Covid or have been vaccinated. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus is now the leading Covid strain in England. As of May, Stratus accounted for 10 per cent of cases, but by mid-June, this figure had risen to 40 per cent. There are two subvariants of Stratus in circulation: XFG and XFG.3, reports Wales Online. Dr Kaywaan Khan, a Harley Street GP and Founder of Hannah London Clinic, shared with Cosmopolitan UK that Stratus possesses specific mutations in its spike protein that may enable it to bypass antibodies from past infections or vaccinations. Dr Khan noted that while Stratus does not seem to make people 'more ill' than earlier strains, it does present one distinctive symptom. He highlighted: "One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which i ncludes a scratchy or raspy voice." Generally, the symptoms of Stratus are described as 'mild to moderate' by Dr Khan. Furthermore, Dr Khan advised: "If you test positive, Stratus is highly contagious, and it is advised to stay home and isolate to avoid spreading to others." Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, informed MailOnline: "The increased competitiveness of XFG and XFG.3 is likely due to new spike mutations which make these variants more able to evade the immune response. "Given that immunity to Covid is waning in the population due to a decline in uptake of the spring booster jab and the reduction of Covid infections in recent months, more people will be susceptible to infection with XFG and XFG.3. "This could lead to a new wave of infection but it's difficult to predict the extent of this wave." The World Health Organisation has classified Stratis as a 'variant under monitoring', indicating that it is closely observing the spread of the strain, which currently represents 22 per cent of all cases globally. Following closely behind is another strain, Nimbus, known for causing a very sore throat in those infected. It now makes up 17 per cent of all tested cases in the UK. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical Director for NHS England, noted: "The variant looks to be spreading rapidly within communities, with top symptoms being a 'razor blade' sore throat and swollen neck glands."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
New Covid variant Stratus has one unique symptom, GP says
The strain is rapidly spreading in the UK thanks to its ability to evade immunity A new strain of Covid is rapidly spreading in the UK - becoming dominant in weeks - with experts saying it is evading immunity. The Covid strain, formally known as XFG and nicknamed Stratus, is said to have one unique symptom. Last month doctors said a variant called Nimbus was spreading quickly through the country - giving people a very sore throat which feels l;like razor blades, as well as other Covid symptoms. Now Stratus has overtaken it - and has a unique symptom of its own. Stratus cases have boomed in just one month, thanks to its ability to infect people who have previously had Covid and those who had injections. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), shows Stratus has now become the dominant Covid strain in England. In May 10 per cent of cases were Stratus, by the middle of June that was 40 per cent. There are two variants of Stratus circulating - XFG and XFG.3. Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and Founder of Hannah London Clinic, told Cosmopolitan UK: 'Unlike other variants, Stratus has certain mutations in the spike protein which could help it evade antibodies developed from prior infections or vaccinations." Dr Khan said Stratus does not appear to people 'more ill' than previous strains. But he said there is one unique symptom, adding: " One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice." Dr Khan said in general, the symptoms of Stratus tend to be 'mild to moderate'. Dr Khan said: " If you test positive, Stratus is highly contagious, and it is advised to stay home and isolate to avoid spreading to others." Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told MailOnline: " The increased competitiveness of XFG and XFG.3 is likely due to new spike mutations which make these variants more able to evade the immune response. Given that immunity to Covid is waning in the population due to a decline in uptake of the spring booster jab and the reduction of Covid infections in recent months, more people will be susceptible to infection with XFG and XFG.3. "This could lead to a new wave of infection but it's difficult to predict the extent of this wave." The World Health Organisation has designated Stratis a 'variant under monitoring', meaning it is keeping a close eye on the spread of the strain. It accounts for 22 per cent of all cases around the world. The spread of Stratus follows quickly on the back of another strain - Nimbus - which was reported to give people a very sore throat. That now accounts for 17 per cent of all tested cases in the UK. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical Director for NHS England said: "The variant looks to be spreading rapidly within communities, with top symptoms being a 'razor blade' sore throat and swollen neck glands."
