As health experts issued a warning over a new “ultra-transmissible” Covid strain spreading through the UK, these are the symptoms to be on the lookout for.
The new Covid variant, XBB 1.5, dubbed “The Kraken”, has already been spotted in the UK after spreading through the US.
Experts from The World Health Organisation have expressed their concern about the growth and spread of the new variant.
The organisations technical lead for Covid, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove said: “We are concerned about its growth advantage in particular in some countries in Europe and in the US… particularly the Northeast part of the United States, where XBB.1.5 has rapidly replaced other circulating variants.
“Our concern is how transmissible it is… and the more this virus circulates, the more opportunities it will have to change.”
These are the symptoms most commonly being reported at the moment according to a ZOE Health Study.
Professor Lawrence Young from Warwick University told the Mail Online that the new variant should be a “wake-up call” to the UK.
He said: “The XBB.1.5 variant is highly infectious and is driving increased hospital admissions in New York, particularly among the elderly. Waning immunity, more indoor mixing because of the cold weather and lack of other mitigations, such as wearing facemasks, are also contributing to this surge of infection in the US.
“This is a wake-up call – a sharp reminder that we can’t be complacent about Covid. The threat of XBB.1.5 and other Covid variants further exacerbates the current NHS crisis and stresses the need for us to remain vigilant.”
He added: “We need to continue to monitor levels of infection with different variants in the UK, encourage those who are eligible to get their boosters shots – why not extend this to the under 50s – and promote the value of other mitigation measures.”
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community – a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Last Updated:
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s Editors’ Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here
© 2001-2023. This site is part of Newsquest’s audited local newspaper network. A Gannett Company. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. HP10 9TY. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |
Data returned from the Piano ‘meterActive/meterExpired’ callback event.
As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.
Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.
These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community.
It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.
