By Society Assistant Editor
Ninolowo Gbamboye
Health experts in the UK are warning of a sharp rise in two new Covid-19 variants — XFB (“Stratus”) and NB.1.8.1 (“Nimbus”) — as hospitals record increasing admissions and unusual symptoms are being reported.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Covid test positivity has jumped from 7.6% to 8.4% in just one week, while hospital admissions have increased from 2.0 to 2.73 per 100,000. The surge, which began in late summer, has prompted a renewed winter vaccination campaign for Covid and flu across the country.
One of the most distinctive new complaints among patients is a severe sore throat described as feeling like “razor blades,” along with a croaky voice. U.S. infectious disease specialist Dr. Aaron Glatt told Today.com that while this type of pain isn’t exclusive to Covid-19, it has become a hallmark description of patients infected with these emerging strains.
Other common symptoms remain familiar — headaches, fatigue, cough, and congestion — but genetic changes in the new variants have made them spread more easily, even though they appear no more dangerous than previous strains.
Covid tests are no longer free through the NHS but remain available for purchase at pharmacies. The UKHSA advises anyone with respiratory symptoms to stay home and avoid contact with vulnerable individuals where possible. For those who cannot isolate, officials recommend wearing a quality face mask, avoiding crowded spaces, and practising strict hand hygiene to reduce transmission.
The government’s booster campaign is prioritising over-75s, care home residents, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and young children. Some high street chemists are also offering private Covid vaccinations, which can cost up to £99.
The uptick in cases comes amid public debate over vaccine safety after a controversial South Korean study linked Covid jabs to cancer risk — a claim widely dismissed by scientists as unfounded and “superficially alarming.”
Health chiefs continue to stress the importance of vaccination and public health measures to protect the most vulnerable as the new variants spread.
