Feeling a bit under the weather? There’s a chance it might be due to one of the new Covid strains making their rounds. In the UK, one of the prevalent variants is XFG, also known as Stratus.

Health experts reassure that these variants don’t seem to pose a greater threat than earlier strains, nor do they cause more severe illness. Nonetheless, the virus’s recent genetic tweaks might make infection more likely and lead to slightly altered symptoms, such as a scratchy throat. Dr. Kaywaan Khan, a Harley Street GP and founder of Hannah London Clinic, highlighted to the Mirror, “While you can still experience typical cold symptoms, like a cough or runny nose, we’re noticing a significant increase in hoarseness of voice.” He mentioned, “While not definitive, this can occur with a common cold too, but with Covid, you might experience some laryngitis and thus the hoarse voice.” This symptom profile differs somewhat from earlier strains.

Dr. Khan further explained, “You might notice a particularly sharp sore throat and, although less common now than with the initial strains, a loss of taste can still signal Covid.” It’s important to note that viruses naturally evolve over time as they spread, and when the changes are notable, these new virus types are labeled as variants.

Covid-19 continues to present an assortment of symptoms, including headaches, coughing, nasal congestion or a runny nose, and fatigue, which can make it difficult to distinguish from a common cold or flu.

If you suspect Covid infection, it’s crucial to avoid contact with those who are vulnerable and to stay home if possible. Should you need to venture outside while symptomatic, it remains advisable to wear a mask, practice regular handwashing, and dispose of tissues responsibly to help reduce transmission.

Dr. Khan emphasizes the importance of early testing, especially for those at higher risk or with weakened immune systems.

He explains: “With Covid, you can get antivirals, but this will only be beneficial if you get tested really early. If you are immunocompromised, or have another condition, testing can provide information to your GP and they can consider antiviral medication.”

The NHS offers free Covid vaccines to people over 75. This can provide substantial protection, even against new variants, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The agency is encouraging people to schedule their jabs against flu and another prevalent winter virus, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), as cases begin to rise in anticipation of winter.

The UKHSA said: “It’s normal for viruses to mutate and change, and as more data becomes available on these variants, we’ll have a better understanding of how they interact with our immune systems and how to optimise our protection, as well as actions we can take to keep the most vulnerable safe and live our lives as normally as possible.

“The most important thing is for those eligible to get their vaccination when it is due.”