Two new strains are behind a spike that has hospitalised thousands of people
Experts have warned anyone who vapes that they could be vulnerable to infection as two new Covid strains cause a wave of infection across the UK. New Covid strains, known as Nimbus and Stratus, have been driving a spike in cases across Britain in recent weeks, with hospitals seeing rising admissions and more people reporting symptoms such as sore throats, fatigue, and coughs.
The UK Health Security Agency says there were 3,049 cases of Covid reported in the week to October 1 – the most recently available figures – a week-on-week increase of 19 per cent. The most recent weekly figures for deaths with Covid in England show another 87 people died as 2,077 were admitted to hospital.
Health authorities have urged people to stay home if they feel unwell and to be cautious in crowded spaces as the colder months approach. Anyone who tests positive should stay home for five days to stop the spread of the virus.
Keith Rochfor, Assistant Professor at the School of Biotechnology at Dublin City University, has warned that anyone who vapes could be especially vulnerable. He said that the layer that lines the inside of the lungs must remain strong to beat infection, but is under constant stress from pollution and infection.
He said: “Vaping can add another layer of strain, and growing evidence shows that this extra pressure can damage the surface that makes every breath possible. The cloud from an e-cigarette carries solvents such as propylene glycol, flavouring chemicals, nicotine (in most products) and even trace metals from the device itself . When this cocktail reaches the lungs it doesn’t stay on the surface. It seeps deeper, irritating the endothelium – the thin layer of cells lining the blood vessels that mesh with the air sacs.
“Healthy endothelium keeps blood flowing smoothly, discourages unnecessary clotting and acts as a selective gatekeeper for the bloodstream – controlling which substances, such as nutrients, hormones and immune cells, can pass in or out of the blood vessels while blocking harmful or unnecessary ones.
” Studies show vaping can disrupt these defences, causing endothelial dysfunction even in young, otherwise healthy people.”
He added: “Both vaping and Covid drive inflammation. Vaping irritates and inflames the blood-vessel lining while Covid floods the lungs with pro-inflammatory molecules. Together they create a ‘perfect storm’: capillaries become leaky, fluid seeps into the air sacs and oxygen struggles to cross the blood–air barrier. Covid also raises the risk of blood clots in the lung’s vessels, while vaping has been linked to the same, compounding the danger.
“Vaping can also hinder recovery after a bout of Covid. Healing the fragile exchange surface requires every bit of support the lungs can get. Vaping adds extra stress to tissues the virus has already damaged, even if the vaper feels no immediate symptoms. The result can be prolonged breathlessness, persistent fatigue and a slower return to pre-illness activity levels.”
Marc Effron at Legacy Healing Center said the combination of vaping and infection from the new variants could make it much harder for the lungs to heal and could even leave long-term damage.
“Vaping already puts significant stress on the lungs,” Effron said. “But when you add a respiratory virus like Covid, particularly with these new strains that seem to linger longer in the airways, it becomes a dangerous mix. Your lungs are trying to fight off inflammation and repair tissue damage, while vaping keeps adding new irritation and chemicals into the equation.”
He added: “The new variants such as Nimbus and Stratus appear to infect the upper and lower airways more efficiently. If those airways are already irritated or inflamed from vaping, the body struggles to clear the virus. The result can be more severe illness, prolonged cough, or lingering breathlessness.”
He said some vapers report longer recovery times after catching Covid, even when their initial infection wasn’t severe. The combination of inflamed tissue and reduced oxygen exchange can result in persistent fatigue, a slower return to normal breathing, and symptoms that mimic long Covid.
“Even after the virus is gone, your lungs need all the help they can get to repair. But vaping keeps interrupting that process,” Effron said. “It’s like trying to repaint a wall while someone’s still throwing dust at it.”
Medical experts in the UK have noted that the new Covid strains have brought back familiar symptoms such as sore throats and hoarse voices, but they are also seeing a rise in lingering respiratory issues among those with existing lung irritation or habits like vaping.
“It’s not just about avoiding serious illness,” Effron added. “It’s about giving your lungs a fair chance to recover. Every puff delays that healing a little bit more.”
The UK Health Security Agency recently said the Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) and Stratus (XFG) variants are now spreading rapidly. While there’s no evidence they cause more severe disease, their high transmissibility means more people are getting sick and therefore more opportunities for lung complications to arise.
“Think of it this way,” Effron said. “Your lungs are already fighting off one attacker, which is Covid. Don’t give them another opponent in the form of vapour chemicals. Even if it feels harmless, it’s like adding fuel to a fire that’s already burning.
“If you’ve recently had Covid, or you’re coughing and feeling winded, that’s the time to stop vaping, at least temporarily. It gives your lungs space to heal. You might even find your breathing feels clearer within weeks.”
“Just because you don’t feel the damage today doesn’t mean it isn’t happening,” he said. “With these new variants spreading, your lungs are working overtime. The best thing you can do for them is stop adding to the strain.”