Latest news with #CovidVariant
The Independent
05-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
What's behind the global surge of new Covid variant XFG – and should you get vaccinated?
A new Covid variant, XFG, is spreading across the world, with Southeast Asia countries reporting a surge in cases. In the UK, the Health Security Agency has said the variant accounted for 30 per cent of cases in England in late June. However, the true extent of the variant's spread remains uncertain, largely due to a significant reduction in Covid-19 testing compared to the peak of the global pandemic five years ago. What do we know about the variant XFG? XFG is a mix of earlier variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, with the earliest sample collected on 27 January 2025, according to the WHO. As of 22 June 2025, there were 1648 XFG sequences detected from 38 countries, representing 22.7 per cent of the global cases that week, up from 7.4 per cent four weeks prior. The variant has been the fastest growing in the last month compared to any other currently circulating types. Recent reports from Southeast Asian countries have shown a simultaneous rise in cases and hospitalisations of this variant. However WHO has designated the risk of this new variant as 'low' and commented that current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness or deaths than other variants in circulation. Why has there been a surge in new cases? The World Health Organization (WHO) lists Stratus as one of its 'variants under monitoring', which means they may require prioritised attention and tracking by health authorities due to their increased prevalence and potential public health implications. The WHO has said the growth advantage this variant has over others is 'moderate', as XFG is growing substantially across all WHO regions. Data shows from the week of 5 May to the week of 26 May, XFG has increased in proportion across main global regions, including from 10.6 per cent to 16.7 per cent in Europe and from 7.8 per cent to 26.5 per cent in the Americas (AMR). In Southeast Asia, the XFG proportion increased from 17.3 per cent to 68.7 per cent in the Southeast Asia Region (SEAR). 'It is normal for viruses to mutate and change over time,' Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist of UKHSA said, adding that it continues to monitor all strains of Covid in the UK What are the symptoms? One reported symptom of Stratus is a hoarse throat, according to some experts. '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 UK He said in general, the symptoms of Stratus tend to be 'mild to moderate'. Healthcare experts have stressed, however, that there is no evidence that the new strain is more deadly or serious than previous variants, and that current Covid vaccines are expected to remain effective and protect anyone infected from severe illness. Should you get vaccinated? Under UK guidelines, people aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system were offered a dose of Covid-19 vaccine this spring. Patients were offered an appointment between April and June, with those at highest risk being called in first. If you are turning 75 years of age between April and June, you do not have to wait until your birthday; you can attend when you are called for vaccination. For the next round of vaccinations, patients will be able to book from 1 September 2025 for vaccines to be given from 1 October, NHS England has advised health providers. The NHS will get in touch to offer you the Covid vaccine if you are eligible.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Covid alert! New 'ultra-catchy Frankenstein' variant has rocketed four-fold in just a month...experts warn it could be most infectious yet
A new Covid variant dubbed 'Stratus' has soared to dominance in the UK, with experts warning it could drive a wave of new infections. Stratus—scientifically known as XFG—is thought to be more infectious than previous Covid strains due to mutations that help it evade the immune system. Now, data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), shows Stratus has now become the dominant Covid strain in England. The variant has gone from accounting for about 10 per cent of all Covid cases in May to almost 40 per cent three weeks later in mid-June. Stratus—a descendent of the already super virulent Omicron—is what is known as a Frankenstein or 'recombinant' strain. This means it emerged when a person was infected with two Covid strains at once which then became a new hybrid variant. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University told MailOnline both two strains of Stratus, the original XFG and spin off called XFG.3, are 'rapidly spreading'. '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,' he said. '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.' However, he added that there is currently no evidence Stratus causes more severe illness and getting a Covid vaccine was 'very likely' to offer protection from severe illness and hospitalisation. Stratus' rise comes just a week after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the strain a 'variant under monitoring'. This designation means health authorities across the globe have been asked to help track the variant due its rising spread in different countries and the potential public health implications. Whilst assessing the overall risk of Stratus as 'low' the WHO said evidence pointed to the variant having significant growth advantage compared to other strains with it now accounting for 22 per cent of cases recorded globally. Nimbus—another new Covid variant also tipped to drive a wave of new infections —has also soared in recent weeks. That strain has gone from just 2 per cent of cases in April to 17 per cent in June, according to UKHSA data. However, overall Covid cases are on the decline compared to recent weeks. Just 5.4 per cent of Covid tests analysed by UKHSA in the week ending June 29 were positive for the virus. This is a slight fall from the 7 per cent of tests that came back positive the week prior, which as the highest positivity rate recorded so far this year. Neither Nimbus nor Stratus are thought to cause new symptoms compared to previous strains. However, medics have warned that anyone with a 'razor blade' throat could have Nimbus. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical Director for NHS England in the North West recently said: 'The variant looks to be spreading rapidly within communities, with top symptoms being a "razor blade" sore throat and swollen neck glands.' But any Covid infection with the virus can still be deadly, especially for more vulnerable groups like the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Painful symptom of latest Covid variant identified
The NB.1.8.1, or "Nimbus," Covid variant is now nearly the most prevalent omicron lineage tracked by the CDC. A notable symptom associated with Nimbus is an incredibly painful "razor blade throat," though other symptoms are typical of Covid infection. Experts state that despite its rapid spread, the Nimbus variant does not appear to be more severe than previous strains. The variant's quick transmissibility is attributed to genetic mutations that allow it to bind easily to human cells. The World Health Organization has designated Nimbus as a "variant under monitoring" and considers the global public health risk to be low, with current vaccines expected to remain effective.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Newest Covid variant causing ‘razor blade throat.' What to know
A new Covid variant spreading around the U.S. may come with an incredibly unfortunate symptom now commonly referred to as 'razor blade throat.' NB.1.8.1, which is also known as or 'Nimbus,' is now nearly the most prevalent omicron lineage tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the name implies, infection may lead to an incredibly painful sore throat, according to experts. Other symptoms, though, are more typical of a Covid infection, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and the loss of taste or smell. 'A 'razor blade throat' is a very descriptive term describing severe sore throat pain — as if their throat is covered with razor blades — (like) with various viral infections,' Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of the department of medicine and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in New York, told 'While not specific to Covid-19, this expression has been used to describe sore throat symptoms in some patients with the most recent Covid-19 variant,' he said. But although the new omicron variant may result in a painful infection, experts say that it does not appear to be more severe than others. 'Every time you get a new strain, it always is a little bit more transmissible than what came before it,' Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UCSF infectious disease specialist, told SFGATE. 'Just like a pop song is more catchy when it rises to the top of the charts. And this particular one, Nimbus, is not just proportionally higher right now in California, the speed at which it's rising in the charts is also high … but it's not more severe.' Just how virulent it is remains a topic of discussion. 'What sets NB.1.8.1 apart is how quickly it spreads,' explains Dr. Magdalena Sobieszczyk, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said in a statement. 'It has a genetic advantage: mutations that make it easy for it to bind to receptors on human cells. The mutations could allow NB.1.8.1 to spread faster and, therefore, infect more people.' The World Health Organization has designated Nimbus as a 'variant under monitoring,' and considers the public health risk low globally. Current vaccines are expected to remain effective. But the longevity of the availability of Covid vaccines in the U.S. remains murky. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said last month that shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. He has also removed members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel and replaced them with people who have been skeptical of Covid vaccines and mandates.
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Newest Covid variant causing ‘razor blade throat.' What to know
A new Covid variant spreading around the U.S. may come with an incredibly unfortunate symptom now commonly referred to as 'razor blade throat.' NB.1.8.1, which is also known as or 'Nimbus,' is now nearly the most prevalent omicron lineage tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the name implies, infection may lead to an incredibly painful sore throat, according to experts. Other symptoms, though, are more typical of a Covid infection, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and the loss of taste or smell. 'A 'razor blade throat' is a very descriptive term describing severe sore throat pain — as if their throat is covered with razor blades — (like) with various viral infections,' Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of the department of medicine and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in New York, told 'While not specific to Covid-19, this expression has been used to describe sore throat symptoms in some patients with the most recent Covid-19 variant,' he said. But although the new omicron variant may result in a painful infection, experts say that it does not appear to be more severe than others. 'Every time you get a new strain, it always is a little bit more transmissible than what came before it,' Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UCSF infectious disease specialist, told SFGATE. 'Just like a pop song is more catchy when it rises to the top of the charts. And this particular one, Nimbus, is not just proportionally higher right now in California, the speed at which it's rising in the charts is also high … but it's not more severe.' Just how virulent it is remains a topic of discussion. 'What sets NB.1.8.1 apart is how quickly it spreads,' explains Dr. Magdalena Sobieszczyk, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said in a statement. 'It has a genetic advantage: mutations that make it easy for it to bind to receptors on human cells. The mutations could allow NB.1.8.1 to spread faster and, therefore, infect more people.' The World Health Organization has designated Nimbus as a 'variant under monitoring,' and considers the public health risk low globally. Current vaccines are expected to remain effective. But the longevity of the availability of Covid vaccines in the U.S. remains murky. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said last month that shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. He has also removed members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel and replaced them with people who have been skeptical of Covid vaccines and mandates.
