New Covid-19 strain symptoms as highly contagious variant spreads
The new XEC strain has been found in 27 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said it is “monitoring” a new highly contagious Covid-19 variant.
The new XEC strain is thought to be responsible for around one in 10 cases of the virus in the UK.
First discovered in Germany, the strain has been found in 27 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, with the global case count exceeding 600, Gloucestershire Live reports.
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The highly transmissible strain is thought to be so contagious due to the number of mutations it carries with experts believing it could become the dominant strain.
The health agency also warned that hospitalisations due to Covid-19 in the UK have seen a slight increase in recent weeks, and have urged people to take their winter booster vaccine.
The HSE’s Winter vaccination programme is underway with people aged 60 and over, healthcare workers, and anyone who is pregnant or has a long-term health condition recommended to come forward for both flu and Covid-19 vaccines.
Doctor Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “Covid-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks.
“As winter approaches, we expect flu and RSV to increasingly circulate too, so if you’re eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats – Covid-19, flu and RSV – now is the time to take them up and get winter strong.
“We understand people may be concerned about new variants. Our surveillance shows that where Covid cases are sequenced, around one in 10 are the ‘XEC’ lineage.
“Current information doesn’t suggest we should be more concerned about this variant but we are monitoring this closely. The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you’re eligible.”
Although it is no longer mandatory to self-isolate with Covid-19, you should try to avoid contact with others where possible if you experience symptoms.
Dr Lopez Bernal added: “If you are showing symptoms of flu or Covid-19 such as a high temperature, cough, and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable.”
Symptoms of the Covid-19 variant include:
- A high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- An aching body
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick.
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