A new COVID-19 variant, known as ‘Stratus’, has been causing concern across the UK in recent weeks due to a unique symptom that distinguishes it from other strains. Health experts are particularly worried about this strain’s potential to evade immunity more effectively than its predecessors.

According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus is currently the dominant COVID-19 strain in England. The ability of this variant to infect individuals who have already contracted the virus or have been vaccinated is the primary cause for alarm. In May, Stratus accounted for 10% of all COVID-19 cases, but by mid-June, this figure had surged to 40%. Two subvariants of Stratus, XFG and XFG.3, are currently going round Britain.

The World Health Organisation has categorised Stratus as a ‘variant under monitoring’, indicating that the organisation is closely tracking the spread of this strain, which currently accounts for 22% of all global cases.

While the exact number of Stratus cases in Scotland remains uncertain, the country’s Covid surveillance data reveals that there were 228 diagnosed Covid cases in total for the week ending June 29.

The average number of hospital inpatients with Covid in Scotland for the week ending June 29 stood at 116.

The latest COVID strain, Stratus, is marked by a distinctive symptom that differentiates it from previous variants—a hoarse and raspy voice.

Dr Kaywaan Khan, a Harley Street GP and Founder of Hannah London Clinic, told Cosmopolitan UK: “One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice.”

According to the health expert, Stratus’s symptoms are generally ‘mild to moderate’, but they resemble those of other COVID strains.

Dr Khan emphasised: “If you test positive, Stratus is highly contagious, and it is advised to stay home and isolate to avoid spreading to others.”

Another recent COVID variant causing concern is the ‘Nimbus’ variant, which is believed to be even more transmissible than its predecessors. Should you exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms, it’s recommended to take a self-test and remain indoors to prevent the spread of these new variants.