The XFG variant of Covid, nicknamed 'American Covid' because of its rapid spread across the US and also known as Stratus, has become the dominant strain in the UK, with thousands of people falling ill.
Although the variant has been identified since last year, it has gained a foothold in several countries. New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows Covid-related hospital admissions jumped by nearly 50% within a single week, with some areas seeing even sharper increases.
Key symptoms of the Stratus variant
Pharmacist Daniel Cheung, writing for NowPatient, highlighted a characteristic symptom of XFG. He said: "The key symptoms and most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant include hoarseness, scratchy/raspy voice, which is considered a unique symptom distinguishing it from other Covid strains."
He noted that additional symptoms include a dry cough, sore throat, fever, fatigue, muscle aches and a loss of sense of taste and smell. GP Dr Renée Hoenderkamp told the Mail that patients with Covid now complain of sore throats, headaches, runny noses and fatigue. She said: "In the past 10 days to three weeks in general practice, my lists have definitely changed to people with these symptoms."
Patients describe their experience
One woman who recently caught Covid described her ordeal: "I was absolutely exhausted, with a temperature, cough and really painful flu-like aches in my legs and joints. There were times in the morning when I'd think: 'I'm fine, get your act together', but by lunchtime I'd have to go back to bed. I slept through a lot of it."
She added that her daughter "had a really bad headache, sore throat and cough, a raging temperature and was completely exhausted". Her GP disclosed they had seen three patients with comparable symptoms on that day.
Isolation guidance and vaccination programme
The NHS recommends that people with Covid symptoms should stay at home and avoid contact with others if they have a high temperature or feel too unwell to go to work, school, childcare or undertake normal activities. Anyone under 18 who tests positive should self-isolate at home for three days, while adults should stay home for five days. Keeping away from vulnerable people for 10 days is also advised.
Dr Saira Bano, GP and founder of SwiftDoctor, said: "A loss or change in your sense of taste or smell is still a recognised Covid symptom, but it isn't the giveaway sign people may remember from earlier in the pandemic. It became much less common with Omicron compared with earlier variants, and an ordinary cold can also reduce your sense of smell, particularly if your nose is badly congested."
She added: "So a change in taste or smell shouldn't automatically be taken to mean you have Covid. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea can also occur with Covid and other respiratory viral infections, but they aren't the dominant symptoms you'd normally expect with a straightforward cold. If vomiting and diarrhoea are the main problem, I'd also consider a stomach infection such as norovirus rather than immediately assuming it's flu or Covid."
Most eligible adults in England can now receive NHS vaccinations for both flu and Covid. This autumn's Covid vaccination programme has adopted a more targeted approach than in previous years. In England, those who qualify include adults aged 75 and over, residents of care homes for older people, and individuals aged six months and above with weakened immune systems.
