Two ‘forgotten’ Covid symptoms ‘you might miss’ as new XEC strain as cases surge in the UK

AS Covid cases emergence successful the UK, radical person started to drawback a caller variant known arsenic XEC.

The caller strain was archetypal identified successful Germany successful June and has since emerged successful the UK, arsenic good arsenic different countries similar the US and Denmark.

Like galore of the variants earlier it, XEC is portion of the Omicron household - the strain that became ascendant globally successful 2021.

Early grounds has indicated it tin beryllium transmitted much easily, but health experts person assured the nationalist that it's precise akin to erstwhile variants and disposable vaccines enactment against it.

According to Clinical Pharmacist Kiran Jones astatine Oxford Online Pharmacy, symptoms stay the aforesaid arsenic erstwhile strains.

These include: precocious temperature, a cough, a sore throat, musculus pain/aches, a headache, nausea oregon vomiting and diarrhoea. 

But Mr Jones said determination are 2 symptoms infected radical are apt to miss.

"People could beryllium apt to miss a nonaccomplishment of sensation oregon smell," helium said.

"Similarly to the different variants, these symptoms could beryllium precise mild initially and not go terrible until the illness progresses.

"This means it could beryllium a fewer days until radical realise they’re struggling to sensation oregon odor anything."

Loss of sensation oregon odor tin statesman 4 to 5 days aft different symptoms, according to the expert, and past astir 7 to 14 days.

He added: "But immoderate radical whitethorn acquisition these for longer periods, with immoderate studies uncovering them to past arsenic agelong arsenic 1 and a fractional years."

The caller strain is thought to beryllium highly contagious due to the fact that it has aggregate mutations.

There presently isn’t capable grounds to suggest betterment is longer than different Covid variants.  

People who drawback the caller strain should commencement to consciousness amended wrong a fewer weeks of the onset of symptoms.

Can existent Covid tests observe XEC?

The Covid tests you tin presently bargain should beryllium capable to observe the caller strain, said Mr Jones.

These are disposable from the precocious thoroughfare and online chemists.

But alternatively, radical should see getting the autumn vaccine if it is offered to them via the NHS.

Mr Jones said: "This includes attraction location residents for older adults, each adults aged 65 and over, anyone considered high-risk (six months to 65 years old) and frontline workers. 

"For those not successful these groups, you tin bargain the Pfizer vaccine astatine astir precocious thoroughfare and backstage clinics."

Should we beryllium disquieted astir cases rising?

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has precocious released figures to suggest infirmary admissions for Covid person risen successful caller weeks.

But Mr Jones said this is comparatively mean astatine this clip of twelvemonth owed to the changes successful weather and the emergence successful seasonal viruses. 

He added: "If you judge you whitethorn person COVID, the champion happening to bash is instrumentality a trial and if it is positive, travel authorities guidelines by self-isolating for 5 days and avoiding interaction with others.”