As the COVID-19 virus keeps changing, there’s a new player in town making waves: the XFG variant, better known as Stratus. First spotted in Southeast Asia in January, it’s been on a roll since then, according to the World Health Organization.
By June, the WHO had labeled Stratus as a “SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring” after it spread its wings to 38 countries.
In the U.S., there’s been a noticeable uptick in cases linked to this new variant, creeping into nine states including New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas, as highlighted by the CDC.
The CDC reports that Stratus is now the “main variant” based on their wastewater surveillance data from mid-September.
Following closely is the Nimbus strain, known for its high transmission rates and severe throat-related symptoms, as noted by Stony Brook Medicine, the medical center tied to Stony Brook University in New York.
Stratus brings some changes too; it has developed mutations that let it play hide and seek with our immune system far better than Nimbus does, making it a bit more challenging to fend off.
This presents a concern mainly for those unvaccinated or previously unexposed individuals. Still, Stony Brook says the risk remains relatively low for most people.
The symptoms associated with this new strain are pretty much what you’d expect from COVID-19, although vaccinated individuals often experience milder cases.
Typical symptoms include tiredness, fever, and a nagging dry cough.
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Along with these, you might find shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, scratchy throat, headaches, body aches, upset stomach, nausea, loss of appetite, and even brain fog creeping in. Though, the loss of taste or smell is becoming less frequent.
If you notice these symptoms, medical professionals recommend getting checked out for proper diagnosis and treatment, which could include antiviral medications, home remedies, or over-the-counter drugs.
Be sure to see a doctor if you experience a high fever over 103°F that lasts more than three days, or if your symptoms take a turn for the worse after initially improving, as advised by Stony Brook.
For those at higher risk, keeping up with vaccinations remains essential to reducing severe cases of COVID-19.
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To help shield yourself from the virus, consider wearing a mask in crowded or indoor areas, particularly during non-viral seasons. It’s also wise to ventilation-proof your space, wash your hands frequently, maintain distance from others, and keep an eye on local COVID data before traveling.
Original article source:New COVID strain spikes in 9 US states with symptoms from brain fog to persistent cough
