Health

New Covid Strain Stratus Is Spreading Fast and People Are Noticing One Weird Symptom First

Published on July 11, 2025

A new strain of Covid known as Stratus is making headlines as it quickly becomes the dominant variant in several parts of the world, including right here in England. According to fresh data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the variant—technically called XFG—is gaining ground fast across the country.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also flagged Stratus as a concern, warning it’s “rapidly growing” on a global scale. GISAID, the international programme that tracks Covid variants, has reported a sharp rise in Stratus cases. It now makes up 22.7% of all tested samples, up from 15.3% the week before, reports the Mirror.

Virologist Professor Lawrence Young from Warwick University told MailOnline that the rise of this variant and its offshoots, XFG and XFG.3, is likely down to new spike protein mutations. These changes are making it harder for the immune system to spot and fight off the virus.

He also warned that falling immunity across the population could be adding fuel to the fire. Fewer people are getting their spring booster jab and recent drops in infection rates might’ve made some a bit too relaxed. “This could lead to a new wave of infection but it’s difficult to predict the extent of this wave,” he said.

Dr Kaywaan Khan, a Harley Street GP and founder of the Hannah London Clinic, shared with Cosmopolitan UK that Stratus might look a little different to previous strains. “Unlike other variants, Stratus has certain mutations in the spike protein which could help it evade antibodies developed from prior infections or vaccinations,” he explained.

That said, there’s no need to panic just yet. Dr Khan added, “Despite this, it is important to mention that Stratus seems to be no worse than earlier Omicron variants in terms of illness, hospitalisations, or deaths.”

One thing that is catching attention though is a standout symptom. “One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice,” Dr Khan noted. He said symptoms can vary from person to person but generally tend to be mild to moderate. Some of the more familiar ones like loss of taste or smell are still showing up too.

If you do test positive, the advice remains to stay home and isolate. Vulnerable individuals are urged to speak to their GP.

Dr Khan stressed the importance of prevention and sticking to the basics: “Covid can spread easily from person to person, especially if they touch infected surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch Covid if they breathe in droplets from a person with Covid who coughs out or exhales droplets.”

His advice? Keep your hands clean, maintain a bit of distance—especially from anyone coughing or sneezing—and stay on top of your vaccinations. It’s simple stuff, but it still works.

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