Latest news with #ThomasJeffries
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Symptom that hits '3 times in 24 hours' could signal Covid
The latest figures also highlighted two of the most dominant Covid variants at the moment People should stay vigilant for signs of COVID-19 as there's been a marginal uptick in cases across the UK. Government data reveals that in the week up to June 15, there has been an increase in the number of confirmed Covid infections in England. This included people in hospital who were given PCR tests. Hospital admissions due to coronavirus also increased slightly compared to the previous week. The predominant strains circulating during that time were identified as LP. 8.1.1 and XFG, each contributing to 19.87 per cent of the reported cases. Also present was the "Nimbus" strain or NB.1.8.1, representing 3.97 per cent of infections. LP. 8.1.1 evolved from LP. 8.1 which itself is a descendant of Omicron, with the original LP.8.1 having surfaced in July 2024 and later categorised as a "variant under monitoring" by WHO in January. Symptoms Currently, it remains uncertain whether LP. 8.1.1 triggers specific symptoms distinctive from other strains. Thomas Jeffries, a senior microbiology lecturer at Western Sydney University, observed that LP.8.1 does not seem to be responsible for exceptionally severe symptoms. Writing for The Conversation, he said: "Notably, the symptoms of LP.8.1 don't appear to be any more severe than other circulating strains. And the WHO has evaluated the additional public health risk LP.8.1 poses at a global level to be low. "What's more, LP.8.1 remains a variant under monitoring, rather than a variant of interest or a variant of concern. In other words, these changes to the virus with LP.8.1 are small, and not likely to make a big difference to the trajectory of the pandemic." However, according to the NHS, one definitive symptom of Covid is a new or persistent cough, which may involve three or more "coughing episodes" in 24 hours. Other indicators on the list are: A high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste Shortness of breath Feeling tired or exhausted An aching body A headache A sore throat A blocked or runny nose Loss of appetite Diarrhoea Feeling sick or being sick. The NHS guidance for those with symptoms of Covid suggests self-isolation until recovery. For those who receive a positive Covid test result, the NHS advocates staying home and away from others for five days, although it's not legally required. Further analysis of recent Covid statistics reveals that the weekly mean positivity rate for PCR tests in English hospitals was up slightly at 6.6 per cent for the week leading up to June 15, compared to 6.2 per cent in the prior week. The total weekly hospital admission rate for COVID-19 saw a slight rise to 1.53 per 100,000 from the previous week's 1.44 per 100,000. However, the overall rate of COVID-19 patients in ICU or HDU remained steady at 0.04 per 100,000, mirroring the previous week's figure.
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
All we know about Covid variant LP.8.1.1 spreading across England
Around 30 per cent of Covid cases in May were linked to the LP.8.1.1 variant Almost a third of Covid cases in England are linked to a specific variant, with people aged 80 and over most affected. The most recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), shows that around 30 per cent of coronavirus cases are caused by the LP.8.1.1 strain. Figures from between April 28 and May 11 revealed that 29.91 per cent of COVID-19 cases were classified as LP.8.1.1. This variant is a sublineage of LP.8.1, which is descended from Omicron. LP.8.1 was first detected in July 2024. It was designated as a 'variant under monitoring' by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in January. In the most recent report, LP.8.1 was also identified in England, accounting for 16.82 per cent of cases. Other variants linked to recent cases of Covid as documented by the UKHSA include JN.1 (14 per cent), XFG (12.5 per cent), XEC (11 per cent), MC.21.1 (5.6 per cent), KP.3.1.1 (2.8 per cent), and XDV (2.8 per cent). The UKHSA added that the highly transmissible NB.1.8.1 was detected in England at the same time, but has a 'low prevalence'. It said: 'There are currently 13 sequences of NB.1.8.1 in England, currently represented by its parent lineage XDV in Figure 4 due to low prevalence.' The update showed that between May 26 and June 1, referred to as week 22, cases of Covid slightly increased in England. People aged 80 and over were most affected by this rise. 'In week 22, 3,833 respiratory specimens reported through the Respiratory DataMart System were tested for SARS-CoV-2,' the UKHSA said. 'There were 219 positive samples for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 positivity increased slightly to 5.7 per cent compared with five per cent in the previous week, with the highest positivity in those aged 80 years and over at 7.4 per cent.' Hospital admissions due to Covid also rose that week. The overall weekly hospital admission rate for COVID-19 slightly increased to 1.49 (compared with 1.40 per 100,000 in the previous week). Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 were highest in the London region (increasing to 2.98 per 100,000 compared with 1.91 in the previous week). The highest hospital admission rate for COVID-19 was in those aged 85 years and over (slightly decreasing to 11.46 per 100,000 compared with 12.07 in the previous week). But the overall intensive care unit or high dependency unit rate for COVID-19 remained low at 0.04 per 100,000 (compared with 0.02 per 100,000 in the previous week). Symptoms It is not known if LP.8.1.1 causes any particular symptoms. Thomas Jeffries, a senior lecturer in microbiology at Western Sydney University, noted that its parent LP.8.1 has not seemed to lead to particularly severe symptoms. Writing for The Conversation, he said: 'Notably, the symptoms of LP.8.1 don't appear to be any more severe than other circulating strains. And the WHO has evaluated the additional public health risk LP.8.1 poses at a global level to be low. 'What's more, LP.8.1 remains a variant under monitoring, rather than a variant of interest or a variant of concern. In other words, these changes to the virus with LP.8.1 are small, and not likely to make a big difference to the trajectory of the pandemic.' The NHS lists Covid symptoms as: A high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste Shortness of breath Feeling tired or exhausted An aching body A headache A sore throat A blocked or runny nose Loss of appetite Diarrhoea Feeling sick or being sick. If you experience symptoms, the NHS advises staying home until you feel better. If you test positive for Covid, the NHS recommends staying home and avoiding contact with others for five days.
