New COVID Variant Symptoms: An Updated Guide

If you keep up with COVID-related headlines, you know there’s a new version out there that has scientists worried. New subtypes of the highly contagious Omicron variant have sparked alarm since they have led to an increase in cases around the globe.

Several countries, including the United Kingdom, have recorded cases of Omicron relatives XBB and XBB.1.5, prompting British health experts to encourage the use of Covid vaccinations and other precautions against the virus as the new Covid variant symptoms are quite different than the previous ones.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) earlier this month urged British citizens to stay indoors if they were ill or to cover their faces if they went outdoors to prevent the spread of a new Covid wave.

The UKHSA then issued a warning, stating that influenza and COVID are presently “circulating at high levels” and are anticipated to increase over the next several weeks.

It is estimated that the XBB.1.5 Covid variant is responsible for at least 4% of the infections presently under investigation. The World Health Organization (WHO) said in October 2022 that there was preliminary data to show that XBB had a greater risk of reinfection than other circulating Omicron subvariants.

What is XBB. 15?

The majority of recent COVID-19 cases are caused by the subvariant XBB.15, which is considered to be the most infectious Omicron mutation to date by international health authorities.

The “Kraken” strain, also known as XBB.15, is considered to be around five times more infectious than previous Omicron strains and possesses traits that make it easier to spread among both vaccinated people and those who have just recovered from an infection.

One of the most dangerous SARS-CoV-2 strains, which causes COVID-19, may be XBB.15. It has evolved to better avoid part of the antibody protection provided by more recent bivalent vaccinations. Numerous publications, including USA Today and the Washington Post, have emphasised authoritative specialists’ evidence that implies that this specific strain is around five times more infectious than prior Omicron variations (which were already spreading rapidly in years past).

Fortunately, infections brought on by XBB.15 do not seem to be more severe or lethal than infections induced by previous versions. Recent studies demonstrate that bivalent COVID-19 booster immunisations provide some protection against these more recent variations, and offer superior protection in comparison to prior COVID-19 vaccine iterations.

New Covid Variant Symptoms

The coronavirus is always evolving. As a result, new variations are always appearing. Over 500 sub-variants of the Omicron are now in circulation worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). XBB.15 and BF.7 are the newest on the block. The worrying aspect is that the disease’s symptoms have altered dramatically along with the appearance of new variations. As a result, it is now very challenging to determine whether you have the virus based just on the so-called “classic” Covid symptoms. These are the top three symptoms of Covid that individuals are now citing.

Sore Throat

The most prevalent COVID new covid variant symptom at the moment is a sore throat, which is also the first indication that you have caught the virus.

The first week itself is usually when the ailment first manifests. The patients lament their throats being scratchy, uncomfortable, or painful. Additionally, it could make it challenging to swallow meals. However, the soreness usually gets better the next day.

Runny Nose

Also, many patients these days also report this new covid variant symptom.

The ZOE covid app, a health research project of British Company Zoe Limited,  has been monitoring COVID symptoms from the beginning, and they have found that “our data reveals that when rates of COVID-19 are high, the likelihood that a runny nose is due to coronavirus infection is high.”

The ZOE app enables infected individuals to record their symptoms while purportedly battling the virus using an app in order to better understand Covid and its progression. King’s College London analyses the data once it has been provided, tracking illnesses across the UK and identifying those who are most at risk.

Patients may notice unrestricted nasal drainage of clear mucus. Nasal congestion results from swollen blood vessels in your nose brought on by an excessive amount of fluid. It’s possible for the nose to feel congested whether or not it’s discharged.

Other common XBB.15 – New covid variant symptoms

Patients frequently report sneezing, coughing up phlegm, headaches, a hoarse voice, and muscular aches and pains, among other symptoms.

What’s important here is the dramatic evolution of COVID symptoms over time. Classic COVID symptoms such as loss of taste and smell, high fever, and extreme exhaustion are no longer considered to be among the most prominent symptoms of the illness.

Conclusion

Although the new covid variant symptoms are not severe, the symptoms most commonly seen in patients infected with this strain of the virus are still present. If you have any of the new covid variant symptoms, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible and get tested. We can help contain the spread of the virus and protect ourselves and our communities by taking the necessary steps and following the rules set forth by public health experts.