A new Covid-19 variant, named Stratus, is spreading rapidly across the UK, with health officials warning of a subtle early symptom that may be easily overlooked. The variant, which includes two sub-lineages XFG and XFG.3, now accounts for a significant proportion of new infections in England and Ireland.
The most common early sign of the Stratus variant is a hoarse or gravelly voice, according to medical experts. This symptom may later develop into more familiar Covid indicators such as fever or cough. Dr Kaywaan Khan, a Harley Street GP, told Cosmopolitan UK: 'One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice.'
Data from Ireland's Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows that Stratus now makes up 76.1% of recorded infections, up from 49.3% six weeks earlier. In England, XFG.3 represented 40% of cases as of June. The World Health Organisation has classified Stratus as a 'variant under monitoring', noting it is more transmissible but not believed to cause more severe illness.
Additional symptoms reported include sore throat, blocked nose, digestive issues, and fatigue. Dr Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California San Francisco, noted that Stratus presents a 'wider range of symptoms' than earlier variants, particularly in older unvaccinated individuals.
UK government guidance remains unchanged: those with Covid-19 should try to stay at home, though free testing is no longer widely available. The NHS advises watching for classic symptoms such as high temperature, new continuous cough, and loss of taste or smell, in addition to the new hoarse voice indicator.
