The new Covid-19 ‘Stratus’ variant spreads in England, recognizing its distinctive symptoms

Covid-19 new variants spread in England. This variant named ‘Stratus’ is considered more contagious than the old variant. Because, mutations make it more likely to avoid the immune system or immune. Recognize the typical symptoms.

Reported by detikHealth, this Stratus variant is scientifically known as XFG. Stratus is the dominant variant in the UK today, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The proportion reached 40 percent of all cases of Covid-19 infection in the UK during June, increased from May which was only around 10 percent.

There are two strain strains, namely the original XFG and the derivative variant of XFG.3. Virologist from Warwick University, Professor Lawrence Young, said both could spread faster. This distribution is driven by the level of community immunity that began to decline.

“Considering that immunity to Covid has declined in the community due to the low coverage of spring booster vaccine and reduced Covid infection in recent months, more people will be vulnerable to infected with XFG and XFG.3,” Young explained to MailOnline, Monday (7/7/2025).

According to Lawrence, this condition allows the occurrence of new Covid-19 waves. However, he has not been able to predict the extent of its spread.

“This can trigger a new wave of infection, although the extent to which its spread is still difficult to predict,” he added.

In general, the symptoms of Covid-19 Stratus variants have similarities with previous variants. Namely shortness of breath, sense of taste and smell decrease or even disappear, high fever or chills, nasal congestion or watery, coughing continuously, sore throat, until the appetite disappears. In addition, sufferers also usually feel fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, to diarrhea.

However, a general practitioner at Harley Street Dr. Kaywaan Khan said there was a typical symptom in patients infected with the Stratus variant. The founder of Hannah London Clinic said the typical symptom of the Stratus variant was a hoarse or hoarse sound.

He added that stratus symptoms generally tend to be mild to moderate. Although so far it looks harmless, Khan suggested that the positive patients of the Stratus variant undergo independent isolation and remain at home, considering that this variant is very contagious.

This article has been aired on detikHealth.

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