Omicron, IHU and Flurona: The latest on Covid variants causing concern
08.01.2022 - 20:01
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Cases of Covid remain high in Scotland as Omicron takes hold.
The variant is now responsible for most coronavirus cases throughout the country as it has become the dominant strain.
However, it is not the only variant of the virus that scientists are keeping a close eye on.
There are always new strains of coronavirus coming to head with many of them not causing any concern.
But some do require attention, such as IHU which was first found in France last year.
The World Health Organisation describes this strain as a 'variant under monitoring' with other viruses such as ' flurona' also hitting the headlines.
But what do we know so far?
Omicron is now the dominant strain in the UK and is more transmissible than previous mutations of the virus, although symptoms appear to be milder.
Omicron cases are still rising in all age groups above 35 and in particular in the over 75s, according to the latest ZOE Covid Study data.
The Omicron variant infects cells in different ways and presents itself in higher levels in a person's salviva.
The strain tends to cause asymptomatic - or mild - infection despite being more transmissible.
This had lead to a lower percentage of hospitialisations and deaths in comparison to case numbers so far.
If an infected person does become ill, symptoms of Omicron infection tend to be similar to those of the common cold.
This includes a blocked nose, sneezing, fatigue and a headache.
You can get more information about all the Omicron-related symptoms here.
Known as IHU or B.1.640, the variant has already been defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a “variant under monitoring”.
The French variant - or IHU - was first discovered by scientists in the Marseille region of France but is expected to