Symptoms to watch out for as new strain of Covid confirmed in Ireland
Experts fear new strain could be more transmissible
New contagious variants of Covid have been confirmed in Ireland by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
23 cases of the new FLiRT variants, KP.1.1 and KP.2, have been confirmed which experts fear are more transmissible and better at escaping prior immunity than other strains.
A spokesperson for the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention said,
"Viruses constantly change through mutation and sometimes these mutations result in a new variant of the virus. Some changes and mutations allow the virus to spread more easily or make it resistant to treatments or vaccines.
"As the virus spreads, it my change and become harder to stop."
Symptoms of the new variant can include:
- A high temperature or shivering (chills)
- A new continuous cough
- Loss or change to your sense of smell and/or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Aches
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick
For more information please visit the HSE website