07 November 2023 , 07:46
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Warnings have been raised over the key symptoms of a new Covid strain after a sharp rise in cases across Europe.
The JN.1 strain of coronavirus has recently been found in France, the US, Iceland, Portugal and Spain, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - and it's also here in the UK. Experts say JN.1 is a descendant of BA.2.86 - better known as the Pirola variant, which came from Omicron. Scientists have said the new strain appears to be more transmissible - but are hoping that this year's latest vaccine will be effective in stopping the spread.
Thomas Russo, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Prevention.com: "There is some data that suggest JN.1’s parent BA.2.86 may be more transmissible than previous variants. Since JN.1 is a derivative of BA.2.86, there is a concern that it may be more transmissible. The updated vaccine is closer to JN.1 than our old vaccine, the hope is that, even if we see more cases with JN.1, the updated vaccine will protect against severe disease."
So far there have only been 51 cases of JN.1 reported worldwide across 11 countries. But Dr Russo said it was on the rise in multiple countries and "increasing in frequency in France", where it "seems to be taking off." A mutation in the spike protein of the virus appears to increase the transmissibility of the new strain compared to previous ones, he said, and the new strain is "much more immune evasive than its parents".
Alongside the cough and shortness of breath familiar to many who have had the virus before, symptoms for the new strain also include diarrhoea and fatigue. Official advice from the NHS website states that if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do normal activities, you should try to stay at home until you feel better and get plenty of rest. The NHS offers treatment to people with COVID-19 who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill, and anyone who has been told they are in this category should keep rapid lateral flow tests at home.
Long Covid symptoms - 23 most reported signs from palpitations to vertigo
Full list of symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea