Covid alert as doctor warns highly infectious new strain could 'evade' vaccine

A doctor has warned that a new strain of Covid-19 could be immune from the vaccine. The Stratus strain has spread across the UK and is known for giving people a hoarse voice.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the two Stratus variants, XFG and XFG.3, currently account for around 30% of Covid-19 cases in England. The XFG.3 accounts for a larger amount than any other variant but symptoms tend to be mild to moderate. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the Stratus strain accounted for around 23% of global covid cases as of June 22.

However, as reported by the Independent, Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and Founder of Hannah London Clinic told Cosmopolitan UK, said: "Unlike other variants, Stratus has certain mutations in the spike protein which could help it evade antibodies developed from prior infections or vaccinations."

Dr Khan added: "One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice."

Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, said "more people will be susceptible" to the variants. This could lead to a "new wave of infection".

He said: "Given that immunity to Covid is waning in the population due to a decline in uptake of the spring booster jab and the reduction of Covid infections in recent months, more people will be susceptible to infection with XFG and XFG.3."

He added: "This could lead to a new wave of infection but it’s difficult to predict the extent of this wave.”

Other variants of Covid-19 are also continuing to spread across the UK. There was an increase in reports of the Nimbus variant giving people razor-blade like sore throats last month.

Officially named NB.1.8.1, the variant spread across China and Hong Kong. It stemmed from the Omicron variant and has now been recorded across the USA and Australia.