(NewsNation) — While COVID-19 isn’t the deadly and dangerous virus it was five years ago, it has still found a way to poke its ugly head into the health world.
The latest problem to arise: the variant known as “Stratus.”
This new strain has led to a rise in COVID-19 cases across the United States this summer, which is critical with children just weeks away from returning to school, where there’s a possibility the virus could spread more.
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So, what is the “Stratus” COVID variant? What are the symptoms, and how are they different from other variants? What is the rate of transmission of the strain, and what treatments are available?
What is the COVID variant Stratus?
“Stratus,” originally known as Variant XFG, is the second most prominent strain of COVID in the United States.
According to the World Health Organization, the strain was first detected in Southeast Asia in January. They added the strain to its watchlist for public health risk in June.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said the strain accounted for up to 14% of the COVID cases in the U.S. a few months ago.
“There is currently no clear evidence that XFG causes more severe disease or significantly different symptoms than earlier Omicron variants,” said Subhash Verma, microbiology and immunology professor at the University of Nevada.
“Importantly, there are no immediate public health concerns associated with this variant.”
What symptoms come from the Stratus variant?
The Stratus variant causes symptoms usually associated with other COVID-19 variants.
A fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and congestion are still what someone who contracts the virus will experience.
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The only distinct symptom that comes with the variant is hoarseness. Unlike previous cases where a person would lose taste and sense of smell, doctors found hoarseness as the common side effect.
Is Stratus transmissable and what treatments are available?
The Stratus variant does seem to be more transmissible than previous strains of COVID-19. It may be more adept than other strains at evading immunity protection.
As for treatments, there are no specific differences from treating any COVID-19 virus.
Doctors suggest getting vaccinated, following hygiene practices (wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings), and monitoring oxygen levels if a person tests positive.
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