American Covid Strain Spreads: UK Admissions Up Nearly 50% in a Week
The XFG variant, nicknamed American Covid and also called Stratus, is now the dominant Covid strain in the UK. UKHSA data shows hospital admissions rose by nearly 50% in a week, and doctors point to hoarseness as a distinctive symptom.
The XFG variant of Covid, nicknamed "American Covid" and also known as Stratus, is now the dominant strain in the UK, and the American Covid strain spreads as hospital admissions climb. New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows Covid-related admissions jumped by nearly 50% within a single week.
Some areas have seen even sharper increases, according to the UKHSA figures.
The nickname comes from the variant's rapid spread across the US. XFG has been identified since last year and has since gained a foothold in several countries.
Symptoms doctors are flagging
Pharmacist Daniel Cheung, writing for NowPatient, said hoarseness is the most distinctive sign of Stratus. He described "hoarseness, scratchy/raspy voice, which is considered a unique symptom distinguishing it from other Covid strains."
Other symptoms include a dry cough, sore throat, fever, fatigue, muscle aches and loss of taste and smell, he said.
GP Dr Renée Hoenderkamp said her patient lists had changed. "In the past 10 days to three weeks in general practice, my lists have definitely changed to people with these symptoms," she said, listing sore throats, headaches, runny noses and fatigue.
One woman who recently caught Covid described being "absolutely exhausted, with a temperature, cough and really painful flu-like aches in my legs and joints." Her daughter had a bad headache, sore throat, cough and a high temperature, she said. Her GP had seen three patients with similar symptoms that same day.
Dr Saira Bano, a GP and founder of SwiftDoctor, cautioned against reading too much into taste or smell changes. She said such a change is "still a recognised Covid symptom, but it isn't the giveaway sign people may remember from earlier in the pandemic."
An ordinary cold can also dull smell, particularly with a blocked nose, she said. Where vomiting and diarrhoea are the main problem, she would consider a stomach infection such as norovirus rather than assuming flu or Covid.
NHS guidance and vaccines
The NHS advises people with Covid symptoms to stay home and avoid contact with others if they have a high temperature or feel too unwell for work, school, childcare or normal activities.
Adults should stay home for five days. Anyone under 18 who tests positive should self-isolate for three days. Keeping away from vulnerable people for 10 days is also advised.
Most eligible adults in England can now get NHS flu and Covid vaccinations. This autumn's Covid programme is more targeted than in previous years.
In England, those who qualify include adults aged 75 and over, residents of care homes for older people, and people aged six months and above with weakened immune systems.
