Is your hoarse voice a sign of the new Covid ‘Stratus’ variant? The 12 symptoms spreading now

A NEW strain of Covid has been circulating in the UK in recent weeks, accounting for a high proportion of cases in England.

The new strain, known as Stratus, is commonly associated with a key symptom, say experts.

A new Covid variant known as Stratus has been sweeping across the UK Despite accounting for a large proportion of new cases, experts are not concerned about the spread of the new variant

The emerging strain, which has two variants – XFG and XFG. 3 – was initially detected in January this year.

By June, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had placed XFG on its watch list following its fast spread.

On September 3, the UK Health Security Agency reported a concerning 7.1 per cent rise in coronavirus infections throughout compared to the week before – although it hasn’t been identified how many cases stem from the XFG variant.

Generally, Covid-19, the common cold, seasonal allergies and the have similar symptoms, including fever, , sneezing or a runny nose.

The 12 symptoms of Covid that continue to be listed by the are:

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• feeling sick or being sick

Severity of symptoms vary from person to person, from mild to severe.

But a more unusual early sign of Stratus is being reported, which precedes more traditional Covid symptoms.

George Sandhu, deputy superintendent pharmacist at Well Pharmacy , says a hoarse voice that appears out of the blue could be a sign of a positive infection.

He said: “One distinctive symptom which many people have noticed before testing positive for the latest Covid variant is a hoarse voice.

“Of course, as we are in Autumn, cold and flu are more prevalent and therefore a hoarse voice isn’t uncommon – the easiest way to know whether you have Covid or not is to take a test.”

He added: “Many Covid variants do seem to carry their own unique calling card and the Nimbus variant previously was known for giving people very sore throats with some people feeling like they’d swallowed razor blades.

“Stratus also seems to affect the throat but it’s important to remember there are a multitude of other ailments which can also affect the throat.”

A hoarse voice can also be caused by other infections like the common cold, vocal overuse from shouting or singing, allergies, or irritants such as smoke, dust, and fumes.

Acid reflux (GERD), dehydration, , and consumption are other common causes.

You should see a healthcare professional for hoarseness if it lasts for more than two to four weeks, gets worse over time, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms like difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, severe pain, coughing up blood, or unexplained weight loss.

A doctor also recently warned of a Covid symptom that may become “worse at night” and impact young children more severely.

In a clip posted to TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia , widely recognised as Dr Sooj, said people with the virus, as well as other respiratory illnesses, might experience “wheezing more at night”.

Dr Sooj explained: “You might have been told that you or your child has a viral wheeze. This is when a respiratory virus like the cold, the flu, RSV, Covid anything like that can irritate and inflame your airways. And this causes them to swell narrow and produce lots of extra mucus.”

He characterised wheezing as a “whistling or squeaking” noise when breathing out.

In general, Covid symptoms remain the same, including symptoms such as a runny nose or continuous cough

And added: “It can also worsen a cough and lead to breathlessness.”

Dr Sooj also cautioned: “It can affect anyone but it usually affects young children particularly those who are preschool-aged and it’s worse at night because muscle tone drops and your airways relax when you’re asleep.

“Cortisol and adrenaline levels are naturally low overnight meaning that your airways can become narrower and this can worsen a wheeze.”

Despite accounting for a large proportion of new cases, experts are not concerned about the spread of the new Stratus variant, noting it’s normal for viruses to mutate.

Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “It is normal for viruses to mutate and change over time.”

The rise in Covid cases is also to be expected, added Dr Nye, with children returning to school, as close contact and often lower personal hygiene levels mix.

However, Dr Gareth Nye, from the University of Salford, told the Mirror : “This version [Stratus] is more likely to make you sick, however, as they appear to be able to avoid your immune system even if you’ve had it before.

“[This] makes prior vaccines less useful, which makes regular vaccination against the latest coronavirus even more important. Think of it like updating your phone to get the best possible experience.”

So what should you do if you feel unwell, but you’re unsure whether it’s Covid?

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or don’t feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you should avoid contact with vulnerable people and stay at home if possible, says the UKHSA.

For those who can’t stay at home, the following guidance will reduce the chance of passing an infection to others:

• Wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask
• Avoid crowded places such as public transport, large social gatherings, or anywhere that is enclosed or poorly ventilated
• Take any exercise outdoors in places where you will not have close contact with other people
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose and before you eat or handle food; avoid touching your face

The best way to find out if you have Covid is to take a test, which are available to buy from pharmacies.