Latest news with #variant
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New COVID variant 'Stratus' is spreading in the U.S. and worldwide: What are the symptoms?
A new COVID variant is climbing the ranks in the U.S., becoming the third-most common strain of the summer. Variant XFG, colloquially known as "Stratus," was first detected in Southeast Asia in January but accounted for less than about 0% of cases in the United States until May. By late June, it was estimated to account for up to 14%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The World Health Organization (WHO) added XFG to its watchlist but evaluated the additional public health risk posed by the variant as "low" at the global level in a late June report, in which it also advised that currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are "expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease." Here's what we know about XFG. What is COVID variant XFG? XFG is a combination of COVID-19 variants F.7 and LP.8.1.2, the latter of which is currently the second most prominent strain in the U.S. The variant's mutations may enhance XFG's ability to evade immune responses, but its binding behavior shows that it is less likely to be highly contagious than other dominant variants, Subhash Verma, microbiology and immunology professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, told USA TODAY. "There is currently no clear evidence that XFG causes more severe disease or significantly different symptoms than earlier Omicron variants," said Verma. "Importantly, there are no immediate public health concerns associated with this variant." How common is XFG? While XFG has been growing and spreading worldwide, it has yet to become the predominant source of infection in the United States. The CDC has moved to using longer timeframes for COVID tracking due to low reporting from states. According to the latest data for the two-week period ending June 21, XFG accounted for 14% of U.S. cases, making it the third most-prevalent strain after NB.1.8.1 (43%) and LP.8.1 (31%). The prominence of XFG in the United States significantly increased in the weeks leading up to the last report, accounting for 0% of cases through March before reaching 2% in April, 6% in late May, 11% in early June and 14% in late June. WHO tracked an uptick in XFG worldwide in June as well, with the June report including data from 38 countries showing that XFG accounted for only 7.4% of positive tests in the first week of May but 22.7% by the last. USA TODAY has reached out to the CDC for more information about the spread of COVID variants in July and August. What are the symptoms of XFG? There is no evidence that XFG causes any distinct symptoms from other variants, said Verma. However, hoarseness has been anecdotally associated with the strain, according to social media posts and news reports. The CDC outlines the following as common COVID-19 symptoms: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Sore throat Congestion or a runny nose New loss of taste or smell Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Nausea or vomiting The CDC advises seeking medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms: Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion Inability to wake or stay awake Depending on skin tone, lips, nail beds and skin may appear pale, gray, or blue This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New COVID variant 'Stratus' spreading in US: symptoms, what to know Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A New COVID Variant Is Here, And It's More Transmissible — Here Are The Signs And Symptoms
A new COVID variant known as NB.1.8.1 has made landfall in the United States. As of late May, the variant, which was first detected in China this past January, accounted for 10% of the SARS-CoV-2 sequences tested from around the world, recent surveillance data found. That's a significant jump from 2.5% four weeks prior. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesperson told HuffPost that the agency is in regular contact with international partners about the activity of NB.1.8.1. Up until late May, only 20 NB.1.8.1 sequences had been identified in the U.S. — that's below the threshold needed for a variant to appear on the agency's COVID dashboard. (As soon as its prevalence increases, NB.1.8.1 will pop up on the tracker, the spokesperson added.) It's nerve-wracking to hear that a new variant is making the rounds, but infectious disease specialists say there are no glaring differences between the symptoms of NB.1.8.1 and those caused by other versions of SARS-CoV-2. 'Currently it appears that NB.1.8.1 would have similar symptoms to other COVID variants that have recently been circulating,' Dr. Zachary Hoy, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, Tennessee, told HuffPost. Here's what to know about the newest COVID variant that's gaining traction around the world. NB.1.8.1's mutations likely make it more transmissible. Compared to the currently dominant variant in the U.S. (LP.8.1), NB.1.8.1 has a handful of new mutations on the spike protein that may enhance its ability to bind to our cells, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency suspects these mutations will increase the virus's transmissibility and, potentially, diminish the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies that prevent pathogens from latching to our cells. In other words, the variant may be skilled at dodging some of our immune defenses, research suggests. Here are the signs and symptoms doctors are seeing with NB.1.8.1. According to Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, NB.1.8.1's symptoms are pretty much the same as those seen with other SARS-CoV-2 variants. Two of COVID's hallmark symptoms are a mild but persistent dry cough and nasal congestion, Hoy said. Many people who come down with COVID are also hit with fatigue and tiredness. 'An infected person can still make it through the day, but they are resting more and feel more tired throughout the day,' Hoy said. Other common symptoms include a fever, chills, a sore throat and muscle aches. 'Some have described recent variants as less intense symptoms as compared to wintertime influenza viruses, but both can have severe symptoms,' Hoy said. There's no evidence suggesting the variant causes more severe disease or an uptick in hospitalizations or deaths, the WHO states. The only noticeable aspect, as of now, is that it's rising in prevalence, Adalja said. How effective are the vaccines against NB.1.8.1? It's too early to know exactly how effective the shots are — as the research on NB.1.8.1 is limited since it's so new — but scientists expect the shots to hold up well. NB.1.8.1 broke off from the Omicron JN.1 lineage, which the 2024-2025 vaccines target. 'The ability of the vaccines to prevent severe illness is intact though protection versus infection is limited and transient,' Adalja said. Anyone who is at risk of severe disease should stay up-to-date with the shots. 'Those in older populations or with underlying immune disorders or on immune-decreasing medications would benefit more from vaccination or those with increased exposure such as healthcare workers,' Hoy added. So if you have a condition that puts you at risk, it's worth getting vaccinated if it's been more than six months since your last vaccine or bout of COVID, Adalja advises. He also added that those who are low-risk likely do not need to go out and get another shot. Know when to treat NB.1.8.1 at home and when to go visit a doctor. Most people will be able to recover at home by resting and staying hydrated. While you're sick, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help alleviate muscle aches and fevers, Hoy said. And, in most cases, symptoms should clear up within a week. For those who are at risk for severe disease, including older adults and people who are immune-compromised, it's worth contacting a physician as they can prescribe antivirals — Paxlovid and Molnupiravir — that can significantly lower the risk of severe complications and death. As was the case with previous variants, these antivirals work best when started within five days of symptom onset. As for when you should go to an urgent care or emergency room? When you have chest pain, have a hard time waking up or staying awake, or feel confused and disoriented, the CDC advises. Hoy says the most concerning symptom he warns patients about is difficulty breathing. 'If you have COVID or COVID-like illness and have worsening trouble breathing or chest pain, you should be evaluated at your doctor's office, urgent care or the ER,' he said. Related... RFK Jr. Says COVID Shot Will No Longer Be Advised For Healthy Kids, Pregnant Women COVID Cases Are Rising This Summer, But Not All The Data Shows It — Here's Why People Are Reporting A Frightening COVID Symptom Right Now — Here's What To Know
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A New COVID Variant Is Here, And It's More Transmissible — Here Are The Signs And Symptoms
A new COVID variant known as NB.1.8.1 has made landfall in the United States. As of late May, the variant, which was first detected in China this past January, accounted for 10% of the SARS-CoV-2 sequences tested from around the world, recent surveillance data found. That's a significant jump from 2.5% four weeks prior. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesperson told HuffPost that the agency is in regular contact with international partners about the activity of NB.1.8.1. Up until late May, only 20 NB.1.8.1 sequences had been identified in the U.S. — that's below the threshold needed for a variant to appear on the agency's COVID dashboard. (As soon as its prevalence increases, NB.1.8.1 will pop up on the tracker, the spokesperson added.) It's nerve-wracking to hear that a new variant is making the rounds, but infectious disease specialists say there are no glaring differences between the symptoms of NB.1.8.1 and those caused by other versions of SARS-CoV-2. 'Currently it appears that NB.1.8.1 would have similar symptoms to other COVID variants that have recently been circulating,' Dr. Zachary Hoy, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, Tennessee, told HuffPost. Here's what to know about the newest COVID variant that's gaining traction around the world. NB.1.8.1's mutations likely make it more transmissible. Compared to the currently dominant variant in the U.S. (LP.8.1), NB.1.8.1 has a handful of new mutations on the spike protein that may enhance its ability to bind to our cells, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency suspects these mutations will increase the virus's transmissibility and, potentially, diminish the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies that prevent pathogens from latching to our cells. In other words, the variant may be skilled at dodging some of our immune defenses, research suggests. Here are the signs and symptoms doctors are seeing with NB.1.8.1. According to Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, NB.1.8.1's symptoms are pretty much the same as those seen with other SARS-CoV-2 variants. Two of COVID's hallmark symptoms are a mild but persistent dry cough and nasal congestion, Hoy said. Many people who come down with COVID are also hit with fatigue and tiredness. 'An infected person can still make it through the day, but they are resting more and feel more tired throughout the day,' Hoy said. Other common symptoms include a fever, chills, a sore throat and muscle aches. 'Some have described recent variants as less intense symptoms as compared to wintertime influenza viruses, but both can have severe symptoms,' Hoy said. There's no evidence suggesting the variant causes more severe disease or an uptick in hospitalizations or deaths, the WHO states. The only noticeable aspect, as of now, is that it's rising in prevalence, Adalja said. How effective are the vaccines against NB.1.8.1? It's too early to know exactly how effective the shots are — as the research on NB.1.8.1 is limited since it's so new — but scientists expect the shots to hold up well. NB.1.8.1 broke off from the Omicron JN.1 lineage, which the 2024-2025 vaccines target. 'The ability of the vaccines to prevent severe illness is intact though protection versus infection is limited and transient,' Adalja said. Anyone who is at risk of severe disease should stay up-to-date with the shots. 'Those in older populations or with underlying immune disorders or on immune-decreasing medications would benefit more from vaccination or those with increased exposure such as healthcare workers,' Hoy added. So if you have a condition that puts you at risk, it's worth getting vaccinated if it's been more than six months since your last vaccine or bout of COVID, Adalja advises. He also added that those who are low-risk likely do not need to go out and get another shot. Know when to treat NB.1.8.1 at home and when to go visit a doctor. Most people will be able to recover at home by resting and staying hydrated. While you're sick, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help alleviate muscle aches and fevers, Hoy said. And, in most cases, symptoms should clear up within a week. For those who are at risk for severe disease, including older adults and people who are immune-compromised, it's worth contacting a physician as they can prescribe antivirals — Paxlovid and Molnupiravir — that can significantly lower the risk of severe complications and death. As was the case with previous variants, these antivirals work best when started within five days of symptom onset. As for when you should go to an urgent care or emergency room? When you have chest pain, have a hard time waking up or staying awake, or feel confused and disoriented, the CDC advises. Hoy says the most concerning symptom he warns patients about is difficulty breathing. 'If you have COVID or COVID-like illness and have worsening trouble breathing or chest pain, you should be evaluated at your doctor's office, urgent care or the ER,' he said. Related... RFK Jr. Says COVID Shot Will No Longer Be Advised For Healthy Kids, Pregnant Women COVID Cases Are Rising This Summer, But Not All The Data Shows It — Here's Why People Are Reporting A Frightening COVID Symptom Right Now — Here's What To Know
Bloomberg
08-07-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
Covid-19 Variant Nimbus Dominant in US as Vaccine Access in Flux
A new Covid-19 variant, officially known as NB.1.8.1 and nicknamed Nimbus, is now the most common strain in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said it is 'aware of increasing detections' of Nimbus in the US, where it monitors spread of the virus through nasal and wastewater samples collected via its airport screening program. Nimbus makes up between 13% and 68% of circulating Covid strains, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services. Estimates from the two-week period ending June 21 show that Nimbus made up 43% of US cases.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cases of new 'Frankenstein' Covid strain 'rapidly' rising - what is known so far
World health experts are monitoring a new COVID-19 variant which has become the most dominant strain in the UK. Covid XFG, or 'stratus' as it is also known, is a descendant of the Omicron variant and was first detected back in January 2025. It has also been referred to as a "Frankenstein" or "recombinant" strain. Today, WHO's Scientific Advisory Group on the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), a group convened by WHO, released a report on the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the #COVID19 pandemic. For this report, SAGO reviewed peer-reviewed papers and reviews, as well as… — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 27, 2025 "This means it emerged when a person was infected with two Covid strains at once which then became a new hybrid variant," The Mirror explained. Reports of the new variant are "growing rapidly", according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and it is showing some signs of "additional immune evasion" compared to others. The WHO has placed Covid stratus "under monitoring" due to the rise in cases worldwide. It is one of seven COVID-19 variants currently being monitored, along with the NB.1.8.1 strain, which is the dominant variant worldwide. The coming COVID-19 Winter Surge in Australia will show the world where we are actually headed is happening in South-Eats Asia and East Asia are just the 'preludes'...watch how NB.1.8.1 spawns are evolving including PQ.1, PQ.2 and even sub-lineages like PE.1. — Thailand Medical News (@ThailandMedicaX) June 4, 2025 However, the WHO stated that the risk posed by the new variant was "low," and that approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against it. The world health experts, in a recent risk evaluation, said: "Several countries in the South-East Asia Region have reported a simultaneous rise in new cases and hospitalisations, where XFG has been widely detected. "Current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness or deaths than other variants in circulation." The WHO added: "The available evidence on XFG does not suggest additional public health risks relative to the other currently circulating Omicron descendent lineages." Covid Stratus has already been detected in 38 different countries around the world. The WHO added: "The detection of XFG is increasing across several countries in various regions that are consistently sharing SARS-CoV-2 sequences with stable to slightly increasing trend in viral activity and hospitalizations." The new Stratus strain of Covid is currently the "most prevalent" in the UK, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Health organisations are yet to list any symptoms unique to Covid Stratus. However, common symptoms of other COVID-19 variants, according to the NHS, include: High temperature or shivering (chills) New, continuous cough (this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours) Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste Shortness of breath Feeling tired or exhausted Aching body Headache Sore throat Blocked or runny nose Loss of appetite Diarrhoea Feeling sick or being sick COVID-19 vaccines are available in the UK, and are usually offered on the NHS in spring and early winter. The vaccine is available for those: Aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 17 June, 2025) Aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment Live in a care home for older adults RECOMMENDED READING: The common disease medical experts believe will cause the next global pandemic Am I eligible for free prescriptions? Yes, if you have 1 of these 11 conditions The 6 beers that are good for your health (and the ones to avoid) The NHS said: "The COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change and protection fades over time. It's important to top up your protection if you're eligible." The vaccine helps: Reduce your risk of getting severe symptoms Recover more quickly if you catch COVID-19 Reduce your risk of having to go to hospital or dying from COVID-19 Protect against different types of COVID-19 virus Eligible people can book in for a vaccination via the NHS website, the NHS App, or by attending a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site.
