New COVID-19 Strain Spreads in US: From Sore Throat to Brain Fog, Full List of Symptoms

A new strain of COVID-19 has been spiking across the United States – especially New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and both North and South Dakota. Identified as the XFG variant, the strain is also known as Stratus. According to the World Health Organisation, it has been gaining momentum after first being detected in Southeast Asia in January this year. The global organization has designated Stratus as a "SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring" after it had spread to 38 countries by June. News reports say the Stratus variant follows the Nimbus strain - highly infectious and linked to severe "razor blade" sore throat symptoms. Experts opine that the mutation of Stratus happened in a way that allows it to evade

the immune system and attack it better than Nimbus. And so, for those who are not vaccinated and were previously uninfected, the strain may even be harder to fight off. In summer this year, there was a sudden rise in the cases being driven by two fast-spreading sub-variants - OF.7 and NB.1.8 - both of which are descendants of the JN.1 lineage - itself a subvariant of the Omicron strain—that killed thousands during the second COVID-19 wave in 2021. WHO has already classified JN.1 as a “variant of interest” due to its rapid transmission, though it has not been labelled a “variant of concern," at least for now. Its descendants, LF.7 and NB.1.8, are also under global observation.

What are the signs and symptoms of Stratus?

Experts say that while the new strain exhibits most of the symptoms of COVID-19, which include high fever, body aches, and even sore throat, most cases may be mild for vaccinated individuals. These symptoms may also include:

• Fatigue and constant tiredness
• Persistent dry cough.
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest
• Scratchy throat
• Severe headaches
• Upset stomach, including diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Brain fog
• Loss of taste or smell

In case you have these symptoms, apart from getting tested for the virus, you must also seek medical help for quick treatment, including taking antiviral medications and over-the-counter drugs. Doctors say if your fever does not subside beyond 103 degrees and lasts more than three days, you must visit the hospital.

Ways to prevent the infection

To prevent catching the strain, experts recommend getting vaccinated, as it is still said to be the best possible protection from COVID-19 infection. To mitigate the spread, doctors also recommended that high-risk groups like the elderly and immunocompromised should receive booster vaccinations. Additionally, the public is also being advised against being in extremely crowded places, apart from regularly wearing masks and washing hands. Doctors say if you have been feeling unwell, make sure to stay at home to prevent spreading the infection.