Four new Covid symptoms to be aware of as 'Pirola' strain arrives in the UK
19.08.2023 - 13:51
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
People in the UK are being urged to look out for some key Covid symptoms as a mutated strain arrives in the UK. The new strain, called BA.2.86, or 'Pirola', has already been identified in a number of different countries according to the UK Health Secretary Agency (UKHSA).
And it was confirmed yesterday that there is one case in the UK so far, although the UKHSA has not given any more details. The Mirror reports that the new strain of the Omicron variant may have up to 30 changes in its protein make-up, and the mutations mean that people may not be immune from previous viruses or vaccines.
So far, only six cases of the strain have been detected worldwide, but experts said it's clear it will spread much more widely. Because of this, it's more important than ever to be aware of the symptoms to stay wary of the new variant.
The key symptoms are what you might expect from Covid, including:
People should do a Covid test if they're experiencing any of these symptoms.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO, said testing and being vigilant was vital in the fight against the coronavirus. “We wouldn’t know if the virus is changing, in case we don’t test enough. Testing is vital to see how the virus is evolving,” he said.
So far there's no indication that the Pirola strain is any more dangerous than previous variants. However, it's thought that it could be more contagious. Usually viruses become less deadly the more they mutate as it gives them a better chance of survival.
CDC spokeswoman Kathleen Conley said in a statement: "Today we are more prepared than ever to detect and respond to changes in the Covid-19 virus. Scientists are working now to understand more about the newly identified lineage in these 4 cases and we