Doctors are warning that anyone with a "dry" throat may be infected with a new and highly contagious variant of Covid.
Called "Nimbus", this variant is derived from the highly virulent Omicron variant, with 13 cases already identified in the UK, following a surge in cases in China, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Although experts say Nimbus symptoms are generally similar to previous versions of the virus, a "razor-sharp" sore throat could be a key sign of this new variant.
According to Dr Naveed Asif, a family doctor at The London General Practice, this distinctive symptom is characterised by a sharp, stabbing pain when swallowing, often in the back of the throat.
Other symptoms associated with this variant include a rash at the back of the mouth and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, in addition to common Covid symptoms such as high fever, muscle aches and nasal congestion.
"However, symptoms can vary greatly, so vigilance is key," Dr Asif told the Manchester Evening News.
According to the NHS, symptoms of Covid include a high temperature, a new and persistent cough, loss or change in smell or taste, difficulty breathing and feeling nauseous.
Although only 13 cases of Nimbus have been identified so far in the UK, this number is likely to underestimate the prevalence of the variant.
This is because the number of Covid tests has decreased significantly since the peak of the pandemic and isolation.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that the number of people testing positive for Covid has reached record levels this year and is now 97 percent higher than in March.
Experts have also warned that this new variant could lead to a surge in cases during the summer and have urged vulnerable people to get vaccinated.
Even those who have been vaccinated or previously infected may be at risk of reinfection, as previously built immunity fades over time.
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, links the potential increase in cases to warmer weather and more intense social activities.
"We are very likely to see a surge in infections over the coming months, perhaps from the end of this month or in July. But it is difficult to predict the level of this 'wave of infections,'" he told the newspaper. The i Paper – reports GazetaExpress.
"Population immunity, whether from vaccines or previous infection, is waning and, unlike other respiratory viruses such as influenza, the Covid virus continues to spread even in hot and humid conditions," he added.
Laboratory studies suggest that Nimbus can infect human cells more efficiently than previous variants, making it easier to infect humans.
However, there is currently no evidence that Nimbus causes more severe illness or higher mortality compared to previous variants.
But the infection can still be deadly for the most vulnerable groups.
Covid was a factor in the deaths of over 300 people in England in May, according to the latest official figures.
Experts have also said that current Covid vaccines, reformulated to combat Omicron descendants, are expected to remain effective against Nimbus.
According to the World Health Organization, Nimbus – known scientifically as NB.1.8.1 – currently accounts for 10.7 percent of global Covid infections, compared to just 2.5 percent a month ago.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of UKHSA, said the organisation is monitoring Nimbus carefully.
"UKHSA is monitoring all available data on SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in regular reports on influenza and Covid-19," she said.
“NB.1.8.1 has been detected in few cases in the UK so far, but international data suggests it is increasing as a percentage of all Covid-19 cases.”
Currently, all adults over 75, care home residents and people over 6 months with a weakened immune system are eligible to receive a free Covid vaccine in the UK.
This includes patients who have had organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplants, people living with HIV, cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and those with genetic disorders that affect immunity.
UKHSA data suggests that people who received a booster dose of the vaccine in last spring's campaign were 45 percent less likely to end up in hospital due to the virus compared to those who were unvaccinated.
The agency has called for all those eligible for the vaccine to get vaccinated to protect themselves from NB.1.8.1 and Covid in general. /Express newspaper/
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