New Covid Variant Stratus Linked to Hoarse Voice Symptom

A new strain of the Covid-19 virus, known as the Stratus variant, is spreading across the UK and Ireland, raising some concerns among health officials. This variant includes two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, and has been linked to a distinctive symptom not previously associated with earlier strains: a hoarse voice. Health experts report that while infections are on the rise, there is currently no significant alarm regarding its transmission.

In the initial stages of the pandemic, common symptoms included fever, persistent cough, and loss of taste or smell. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, specialists are observing that Stratus may cause patients to experience voice changes, such as hoarseness. According to Dr. Alex Allen, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), “It is normal for viruses to mutate and change over time.”

By September 10, 2023, the UKHSA noted a 7.6% increase in coronavirus infections across England compared to the previous week. The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized the XFG variant as a “variant under monitoring,” assessing the public health threat posed by XFG as minimal globally. In Ireland, health officials recorded 425 new infections during the first week of September, with the XFG variant thought to account for a significant portion of these cases.

The WHO has indicated that XFG is spreading more rapidly than other circulating variants worldwide, yet it emphasizes that there are “no reports to suggest that the associated disease severity is higher compared to other circulating variants.” Current evidence suggests no additional public health risks related to XFG compared to other strains of the Omicron variant.

Dr. Allen reassured the public that existing vaccinations remain effective against both XFG and XFG.3. He stated, “Based on the available information so far, there is no evidence to suggest that the XFG and XFG.3 variants cause more severe disease than previous variants, or that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against them.”

The Stratus variant was first identified in Southeast Asia in January 2025 and has since spread to 38 countries by June of that year. Notable for its unusual early symptoms, some patients have reported a scratchy or raspy voice. Dr. Kaywaan Khan, a GP and founder of the Hannah London Clinic, highlighted this new symptom in an interview with Cosmopolitan UK, noting, “One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness.”

Common Covid-19 symptoms reported generally include a high temperature or chills, a persistent cough, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headaches, sore throats, nasal congestion, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and nausea. As the situation evolves, health authorities continue to monitor the spread of the Stratus variant and its implications for public health.