New data shows a steep rise in UK Covid infections driven by the XFG variant, also known as American Covid or Stratus Covid, with cases climbing 230 percent from August to September.
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) recorded 1,374 infections in August, which jumped to 4,589 by September. Hospitalisations rose even more sharply, from 950 in August to 4,939 in September.
Hallmark symptoms of the variant
According to Stony Brook Medicine, most people will experience mild cases of American Covid, especially if they have received the vaccination or a booster. The university advised people to watch for potential symptoms, given many vulnerable people could still be adversely affected.
Hallmark symptoms include a persistent dry cough, fatigue or general tiredness, and a high temperature of 38C or above. The variant may also present with more than half a dozen other signs, ranging from a scratchy, sore throat to bouts of diarrhoea.
Other potential symptoms include shortness of breath, feeling sick (nausea), loss of appetite or stomach aches, headaches and muscle pain, brain fog or trouble concentrating, diarrhoea, and sinus congestion or a runny nose.
Emergency warning signs
The NHS warns that people experiencing certain signs should immediately dial 999. These include feeling very suddenly and severely unwell with symptoms continuing to get worse, sudden chest pain, intense breathlessness that prevents finishing even short sentences while resting, breathing suddenly getting worse, coughing up blood, collapsing, fainting, or other loss of consciousness, experiencing a seizure for the first time, inability to wake or stay awake, new confusion, lips, nail beds and skin appearing pale, gray or blue depending on skin tone, and a rash that behaves like meningitis and does not fade when a glass is rolled over it.
The vast majority of people who contract Covid will not develop these severe symptoms, and extreme cases can be prevented by getting the vaccine or booster to top up immunity. Those who have experienced the latest version have reported feeling unwell and bedbound.
Public reports and official response
One social media user who fell ill in September said: "I had all them symptoms bar one earlier this week. I was in bed for 30+ hours knocked me on my a*** whatever it was."
Another added: "I have been really ill for about 6 weeks and the past 2 weeks on top of that been extra knocked out i.e feel like I have been heavily drinking, sniffles etc. Had a burning sensation at back of my mouth for 2 weeks very badly and since then mildly."
Officials have said that, despite the rise in recent cases, Covid cases remain generally low across the UK. Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: "While Covid-19 activity has shown some recent increases, cases remain at low levels in the UK."
"UKHSA is monitoring all the data relating to Covid-19 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in our regular surveillance reports."
