What are the symptoms of the new Stratus COVID variant?
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus variants currently account for just over 30% of COVID cases in England, up from 10% in May.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that XFG is growing rapidly globally and is thought to be slightly more infectious than previous variants.
However, experts suggest there is no need to be unduly worried. The UKHSA says Stratus does not appear to pose any greater risk to health than other strains, and COVID cases in general are decreasing compared to recent weeks.
"Based on the available information so far, there is no evidence to suggest that the XFG and XFG.3 variants cause more severe disease than previous variants, or that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against them," Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, told Yahoo UK.
"It is normal for viruses to mutate and change over time. UKHSA is monitoring all available data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in our regular Flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports."
Stratus is a descendant of the Omicron COVID variant. It is a recombinant strain, sometimes called a 'Frankenstein' strain. This means it emerged when a person was infected with two COVID variants at once, creating a new hybrid variant.
XFG has been declared a 'variant under monitoring' by the WHO, meaning health authorities across the world have been asked to help track it to determine any public health implications.
However, while the variant is said to spread rapidly, the WHO has classed it as 'low risk' on a global level.
There isn't enough evidence yet to suggest this strain has any symptoms that might differentiate it from others.
However, one doctor said that, while symptoms vary from person to person, the Stratus variant may be associated with hoarseness.
'One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice," Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and Founder of Hannah London Clinic, told Cosmopolitan. "Regardless of whether the symptoms mimic a cold or flu, testing continues to be the critical step in eliminating the possibility of a coronavirus infection," he added.
According to the NHS, common symptoms of COVID can include:
a high temperature or shivering
a new, continuous cough
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
shortness of breath
Feelings of fatigue or exhaustion
aches
headache
sore throat
blocked or runny nose
loss of appetite
diarrhoea
feeling sick or vomiting
The UKHSA says that "COVID-19 activity decreased across most indicators" in the week ending 29 June and was at baseline levels.
COVID hospital admissions in England dropped to 0.99 per 100,000 compared to 1.46 the week before. And the number of people tested in GP surgeries who returned positive results fell to 7.8% from 8.8%.
Hundreds of events mark five years since Covid-19 outbreak (The Guardian, 3-min read)
What are the symptoms of the Nimbus COVID variant? (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Public trust in science has been eroded, from Covid-19 to climate (The Guardian, 3-min read)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man Adopts a 'Fitness is Fun' Mindset and Loses 85 Pounds Playing This Trendy Game
For Ethan Noblesala, 32, a diagnosis of prediabetes and a blunt prediction from his doctor in November, 2023, motivated him to improve his health. "My doctor told me, 'If you don't change your lifestyle, you're going down a route that's leading to more surgeries, more operations and more medication,'" Noblesala tells TODAY. He says he was at his healthiest during college, but as he built his career as an entrepreneur, he neglected his health and focused on building his businesses. 'As I started that corporate lifestyle, I was slowly gaining weight,' he says. To foster business growth and connections, he was spending a lot of time at happy hours. He was lucky if he slept four hours a night. Uber Eats was the cornerstone of his diet. Exercise or even spending any time outside was practically non-existent. And his habits only got worse during COVID. His weight climbed to 235 pounds, which was a strain on his 5-foot, 6-inch frame. 'Even though I was running a successful business with my co-founder, I decided to take a leave to really focus on what was most important to me — my health,' he says. That attention to his health worked. He lost 85 pounds, and he says he feels 10 years younger. Here's how he did it. Noblesala has a background in finance, so he's motivated by numbers. He honed in on them to make changes, tracking his protein, fiber and calories. He discovered that when he ate mainly protein and fiber-dense meals, he felt satiated even when he was only eating 1,500 calories a day: 'Your body needs nutrition, but I never felt like I was starving myself or restricting myself.' He built on small goals and habit changes: Drinking a glass of water every day: 'I was 85 pounds heavier. I wasn't going to go out and run five miles, or try any of the crazy trends I see online. This was something I could do.' Shopping for groceries and checking the nutrition labels for protein, fiber and calories instead of eating out — and overeating — five times a week. Having a go-to, high-fiber, low-calorie meal that he liked to eat: Shirataki noodles with chicken breast in a low-fat buffalo sauce. Finding healthier swaps for foods he likes, such as Costco chicken nuggets instead of McDonald's: 'I found it exciting to make these new discoveries. It's something I love to do.' Noblesala grew up playing sports and loved how they kept him active while also being a way to connect with others. He'd often ask his friends if they wanted to play basketball, tennis or something else together. 'Through tennis, I discovered pickleball. That was the hook for me in terms of living a healthier and active lifestyle. I've become a pickleball fanatic,' he says. In December 2023, he joined Life Time. 'One thing I appreciate there is the community. I get to play pickleball, my favorite sport. Some people say going to the gym is a chore, but I'm excited to go." "There are endorphins you get from exercising, from being around others and from having that community," he says. "In the past, going to the gym was a solo grind, and I had to force myself to go. Now, it's not a chore. It's part of my lifestyle." Having friends at the gym and at pickleball builds accountability for him, too. 'My friends will say, 'Ethan, I'll see you tomorrow.' And, of course, then I go after work. They're expecting me,' he says. He has also joined some running clubs, such as Pitch & Run, and now he's working toward an ambitious goal — running the New York City marathon in November. He earned the opportunity to participate through his alma mater, Chaminade High School in Long Island. 'I'm nervous for the marathon because I know it's a daunting mental task. I'm focusing on the interval training and the strength training,' he says. Noblesala recognizes now how his lack of sleep was making his health worse: 'Your body needs to recover. I'm averaging six and a half to seven and a half hours of sleep a night now, and I definitely feel it when I don't get seven hours of sleep.' He's also careful about balancing his workouts with rest. He finds fitness data so valuable that he wears an Apple watch, a Whoop tracker and an Oura ring. After a day where he ran seven miles and played two hours of pickleball, he saw that his Whoop told him to take it lighter the next day. 'You can make these informed decisions with technology. It was harder to do this 10 years ago,' he says. Now that Noblesala is 85 pounds lighter and his life is centered around healthy living, he has no intention of returning to his old habits. In fact, it inspired Ethan's new company WeFit Labs, which is a gamified social fitness app designed to help motivate people to move together. If you're looking for a fitness community, join our Start TODAY walking club on Facebook and connect live with members and experts during coaching calls on the Start TODAY app! This article was originally published on
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Public health pledge aims to tackle obesity rates in Pendle
A public health pledge aims to tackle rising obesity rates. Pendle's Health and Wellbeing Partnership has signed the Healthy Weight Declaration, a formal commitment to promote healthier lifestyles across the borough. The move comes as data shows that 68 per cent of adults in Pendle are overweight or obese, above the national average. Councillor David Whipp, leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: "The Pendle Health and Wellbeing Partnership is the first in England to adopt a district declaration. "Pendle Borough Council is pleased to support this partnership commitment to support healthy weight across local communities." Healthy Weight Declaration, developed by the charity Food Active, was first launched in 2015 and has since been adopted by numerous local authorities across the UK. Pendle's partnership includes Pendle Borough Council, Pendle Leisure Trust, Lancashire County Council, primary care networks, and community organisations. Dr Irfan Chaudry, clinical director of Pendle West Primary Care Network, said: "Signing the declaration as a Health and Wellbeing Partnership is the right approach in Pendle. "By working collectively to review our services and policies to shape healthier environments, we can alleviate pressure on the NHS and social care, whilst supporting our local communities to live well."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
What a new study suggests about pregnancy diet and type 1 diabetes—and why it's not about being perfect
It's not about being perfect—it's about having the tools to make informed choices. When you're pregnant, it can feel like everything comes with a warning label. And now, a new study adds another layer to the conversation—this time linking a mom's diet during pregnancy to the risk of type 1 diabetes in her child. But before this sparks anxiety over your last bite of pizza or bowl of pasta, let's take a breath—and break down what this research actually means for you and your baby. Because while the study's findings are significant, they aren't meant to shame—they're meant to empower. It's not about being perfect. It's about having the tools to make informed choices. Researchers behind a large-scale Danish study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, analyzed data from more than 67,000 mother-child pairs over a 17-year period. They discovered that when pregnant women ate diets higher in inflammation-promoting foods—like processed meats, sugary drinks, and refined carbs—their children were observed to have a 16% higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes for every one-point increase in the diet's inflammatory score. This does not mean the diet caused diabetes, only that a pattern was observed. This dietary score, called the EDII (Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index), was calculated using food frequency questionnaires filled out around 25 weeks into pregnancy. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition—often diagnosed in childhood—where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's insulin-producing cells. While genetics play a role, the rising number of cases in developed countries suggests that environmental factors, including prenatal exposures, may also be at play. The study also found that high gluten intake and maternal smoking during mid-pregnancy were independently associated with increased diabetes risk in children—pointing to this stage of pregnancy as a potentially critical window for fetal immune development. Related: New study: Cutting sugar in the first 1,000 days could shape your baby's health for life 'Inflammatory' doesn't just mean sugary foods. In this study, higher EDII scores were associated with frequent intake of: Processed or red meats Refined grains (like white bread and pastries) Fried foods Sugary beverages Foods containing trans fats In contrast, lower EDII scores—indicating a more anti-inflammatory diet—were linked to greater consumption of: Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables Garlic and tomatoes Fruits and whole grains Coffee and tea These food patterns closely resemble the Mediterranean diet, long celebrated for its role in supporting heart health and reducing chronic inflammation. Related: Eating a Mediterranean diet could increase your chances of becoming pregnant, studies show It's easy to read a study like this and feel an onslaught of food guilt. But here's the reality: this isn't about moral judgment—it's about informed awareness. It's also important to remember that many parents whose children develop type 1 diabetes followed healthy or typical diets. Autoimmune conditions are complex, and no one decision during pregnancy can guarantee or prevent an outcome.' Importantly, the researchers emphasized that their findings are observational—meaning they show associations, not direct cause-and-effect. Still, the patterns were strong enough to suggest that diet during mid-pregnancy may have a meaningful influence on the developing immune system. So what can you do with this information? You don't need to toss your cravings out the window or obsess over every ingredient. Instead, you can take small, sustainable steps that feel good to you and your body. If you're pregnant (or planning to be), consider these realistic, non-restrictive shifts: Add before you subtract. Focus on including more fiber-rich, whole foods before worrying about cutting things out. Make swaps where it feels easy. Choose brown rice or quinoa instead of white rice; opt for olive oil instead of butter when you can. Don't stress over every meal. It's what you do most of the time—not all of the time—that matters. Small shifts count. If access to fresh produce or high-quality ingredients is limited, know that every small shift still counts. Frozen vegetables, canned beans, or even simple substitutions like whole-grain bread are powerful steps. Ask for support. A registered dietitian or your OB-GYN can help you personalize your approach based on your cravings, health needs, and energy levels. This study doesn't mean that every food decision during pregnancy needs to be scrutinized or optimized. It means that we're learning more—and that knowledge can be powerful. Especially when it comes from a place of support, not shame. By understanding how inflammation works and how certain foods may influence a child's risk of developing autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes, moms can feel more confident making the choices that are right for them. If you're learning this after your pregnancy—or after a diagnosis—it's never too late to apply that knowledge in ways that support your child or future pregnancies. Growth is a sign of strength, not regret. Because you deserve to feel informed, supported—and never judged—for doing the best you can with the knowledge you have. Source: Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2025. 'Association between a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern during pregnancy and type 1 diabetes risk in offspring: prospective cohort study'
