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.”