A new strain of Covid is on the rise in the UK and many Brits have been left puzzled on whether they have it, or whether it’s the flu or a cold. Here’s everything you need to know
With the change in season, many people are starting to experience symptoms of a cold or flu, but there are four signs indicating you might be suffering from the new Covid variant instead.
Health experts have issued a warning amid the threat of a “tripledemic,” which occurs when three different viruses spread simultaneously. They are encouraging people to get vaccinated as cases begin to creep up as we head further into the colder months.
In the UK, there has been a significant rise in confirmed Covid cases, with data revealing that in the space of a week, it has surged from 7.6 per cent to 8.4 per cent.
READ MORE: UK Covid infections and hospitalisations spike as Stratus variant with ‘unusual symptom’ hitsREAD MORE: ‘I was told lump in neck was from straining during labour – it was much worse’
The new Covid strain, known as Stratus, has been spreading rapidly and includes two variants: XFG and XFG. 3. The XFG. 3 variant made up around 40 per cent of Covid cases in the UK as of June, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Typically, Covid symptoms resemble those of common respiratory illnesses such as the flu, including fever, cough, sneezing or a runny nose. Symptoms can range from minor to severe, depending on the individual, so it can be easy to dismiss Covid as a common cold.
However, the most common initial sign of the new Stratus strain is a hoarse or raspy voice. This symptom may indicate that you have Covid rather than the flu or a cold. Medical experts have also noted additional Stratus symptoms, including blocked noses, sore throats, digestive issues and exhaustion.
Dr Nye told The Mirror: “In most ways, it’s almost identical. However, people with this version tend to get very sore throats and a hoarse voice, compared with the other more general symptoms like cough, temperature and aches.”
Flu cases are said to have increased from 1.1 per cent to 1.3 per cent, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of coughs and colds, is also set to rise. Symptoms of RSV can be minor, but it can lead to a more serious infection, such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis, the NHS explains.
The four major symptoms to look out for that could indicate Covid, the flu or RSV are:
- having a high temperature
- a cough
- feeling tired
- aching muscles and joints
With the spread of the three viruses, health experts are encouraging people to get vaccinated. “While this is to be expected at this time of year, now is the time for people to come forward for their winter vaccines if they’re eligible, before we start to see more of these viruses in circulation in the winter months,” Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, from the UKHSA, told The Sun.
Dr Jamie added: “Vaccination offers the best protection against flu, Covid-19 and RSV which is why it’s vital that eligible groups get vaccinated.” You can find out more on vaccinations on the NHS website here.
If you’re wondering if you’ve got the flu, a cold or the new Covid, here are the symptoms to look out for. Please note that symptoms vary from person to person.
Covid symptoms
These are the recognised symptoms of Covid that people are advised to look out for, as outlined by the NHS.
- 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
Flu symptoms
The NHS notes that these symptoms can come on “very quickly” and can consist of:
- a sudden high temperature
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
RSV infection symptoms
The NHS states that most people experience cold-like symptoms with an RSV infection, which typically start within a few days of getting infected. Symptoms, as outlined by the NHS, can include:
- a runny or blocked nose
- a cough
- sneezing
- tiredness
- a high temperature – signs include your back or chest feeling hotter than usual, sweatiness and shivering (chills)