A doctor has described the symptoms of a Covid variant dubbed “American Covid” as cases spread in the UK. New figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show hospital admissions relating to Covid increased by almost 50 per cent in a week. In London, the increase in one week was 80 per cent.
Tests show that the dominant strain in the UK is XFG, also known as Stratus, and nicknamed American Covid. Stratus became associated with the USA after spreading rapidly in the States. The XFG (Stratus) subvariant was first identified in January 2025 then spread rapidly in the summer of last year across the USA, reports YorkshireLive.
GP describes symptom pattern
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.” Dr Hoenderkamp added: “It’s very flu-like, actually, which is probably the fairest way to describe it.”
One woman who recently had Covid explained her symptoms, saying: “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 said her daughter “had a really bad headache, sore throat and cough, a raging temperature and was completely exhausted”. Her GP said they had seen three patients with similar symptoms that day.
Hospital data and expert view
The latest UKHSA data shows seven registered deaths involving Covid in England in a week. Professor Emma Wall, clinical professor of infectious diseases at Queen Mary University of London, said: “For most people, infection going round is harmless, and may actually boost immunity. But there are clinically vulnerable adults who are at risk, and there are also people who will either get Long Covid or experience a relapse.”
What to do if you have Covid
According to the NHS, if you have Covid symptoms, you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities. You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature. If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.
If you take a test and test positive, the NHS says you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days after the day the test was taken if you or your child are under 18 years old or try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test if you are 18 years old or over. You should also avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from infections, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test.
