Yahoo News New Covid FLiRT variant symptoms as cases spike in UK
A new group of Covid-19 variants have resulted in a surge of hospital admissions. The new strains, known collectively as FLiRT, descend from the previous JN. 1 variant, which has another 'parent' subvariant known as BA.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Covid-related hospital admissions went up by 24 per cent in the week to Sunday, with a rate of 3.31 per 100,000 people. This is compared with 2.67 per 100,000 people in the week prior.
In the USA, one of the FLiRT variants, known as KP. 2, caused around 25 per cent of new cases in the last 2 weeks of April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. As reported by the Mirror, the UK has seen a mix of JN. 1 sublinages, several of which appear to be increasing in prevalance.
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KP. 2 is among the variants identified in the UK. However, the UKHSA says they will continue to monitor these variants as the situation evolves.
Symptoms of new Covid FLiRT variant
The UKHSA says they'll need more data to draw any conclusions about the effect of these mutations, including how they are transmitted, how they interact with our immune systems, and the severity of symptoms. In the meantime, Brits are being reminded of the usual Covid symptoms, which may indicate the presence of a new strain.
British health officials have flagged up the primary symptoms of Covid, which encompass fever or chills, a constant new cough and an alteration or loss in your sense of smell or taste. NHS experts equate the condition to be similar to common cold or flu with other accompanying symptoms:.
How is it treated?
The UK Health Security Agency's advice is that anyone presenting respiratory infection symptoms, inclusive of Covid, should abstain from contact with vulnerable individuals, on top of the preference of staying at home. They maintain that "our best defence against severe disease and hospitalisation from flu and Covid-19" continues to be vaccination.
Populations like people over 75 years old, those endowed with a compromised immune system, along with care home residents are urged to avail their springtime inoculation.
For those flagging mild covid cases, recovery can usually be accomplished at home without medical intervention. Nevertheless, detailed situations call for hospital admittance and treatment.
This would involve:
Become very unwell with worsening symptoms
Get sudden chest pain
Are so breathless you're unable to say short sentences when resting, or your breathing has suddenly got worse
Start coughing up blood
Collapse, faint, or have a seizure or fit for the first time
Develop a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
