As health experts have issued a warning about a new ‘ultra-transmissible’ strain of Covid spreading across the UK, these are the symptoms to watch out for.
The new variant of Covid, XBB 1.5, dubbed ‘The Kraken’, has already been spotted in the UK after spreading to the US.
Experts from the World Health Organization expressed concern about the growth and spread of the new variant.
The organisation’s technical lead for Covid, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove said: “We are concerned about its growth advantage, particularly in some countries in Europe and in the US… particularly in the north-eastern part of the United States, where XBB.1.5 is rapidly replaced other circulating variants.
“Our concern is how transmissible … and the more this virus circulates, the more opportunities it will have to change.”
These are the most commonly reported symptoms right now according to a ZOE health survey.
- Sore throat
- Stuffy nose
- A runny nose
- Sneezing
- Cough without sputum
- Headache
- Cough with sputum
- Husky voice
- Muscle aches and pains
- Changed smell
Covid XBB.1.5 should be a ‘wake-up call’ for the UK
Professor Laurence Young of the University of Warwick told Mail Online that the new option should be a “wake-up call” for the UK.
He said: “The XBB.1.5 variant is highly contagious and is leading to an increase in hospital admissions in New York, particularly among the elderly. Weakening immunity, more mingling indoors due to the cold weather and the lack of other mitigation measures, such as wearing face masks, are also contributing to this surge of infection in the US.
“This is a wake-up call – a stark reminder that we cannot be complacent about Covid. The threat of XBB.1.5 and other Covid variants further exacerbates the current NHS crisis and underlines the need to remain vigilant.”
He added: “We need to continue to monitor infection rates with different variants in the UK, encourage those who are eligible to get their booster shots – why not extend this to the under 50s – and promote the value of other mitigating measures.’
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