GP issues warning over new Covid symptom amid fears Nimbus variant will sweep the UK this summer

Doctors are warning anyone with a 'razor blade' throat that they could have a new and highly contagious Covid variant.

Dubbed 'Nimbus', the strain is descended from the super virulent Omicron, with 13 cases having already been found in the UK, following a surge in cases in China, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Whilst experts say Nimbus symptoms are broadly similar to earlier versions of the virus a 'razor blade sore throat' could be a key sign of the new variant.

According to Dr Naveed Asif, a GP at The London General Practice, this distinctive symptom is characterised by a sharp, stabbing pain when swallowing, often at the back of the throat.

Other symptoms linked to the strain include redness in the back of the mouth and swollen neck glands, as well established common Covid symptoms like fever, muscle aches and congestion.

'However, symptoms can vary widely so vigilance is key', Dr Asif told Manchester Evening News.

According to the NHS, Covid symptoms include a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss or change to sense of smell or taste, shortness of breath and feeling sick.

Whilst only 13 British cases of Nimbus have been identified so far, this figure likely underestimates how far the variant has spread.

This is because the number of Covid tests carried out has massively decreased since the height of pandemic and lockdown.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows the number of people testing positive for Covid has hit record levels this year and is already 97 per cent higher than numbers recorded in March.

Experts have also warned that the new strain could lead to a surge in Covid cases over the summer and have urged the vulnerable to get vaccinated.

Even those who were previously vaccinated or infected could be at risk of the catching the virus, as previously built-up immunity fades over time.

Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, put the potential surge in cases down to warmer weather and busier social lives.

'We are very likely to see a spike of infections over the next couple of months, possibly by later this month or in July. But it’s difficult to predict the level of this infection wave,' he told The i Paper.

'Population immunity, either from vaccination or previous infection, is waning and, unlike other respiratory viruses such as flu, the Covid virus continues to spread in hot and humid weather,' he said.

Lab studies suggest Nimbus can infect human cells more efficiently than previous strains, making it more likely to infect people.

However, there is currently no evidence Nimbus is more likely to cause severe illness or death in those it infects compared to previous variants.

But infection with the virus can still be deadly for more vulnerable groups.

Covid was a factor in the deaths of just over 300 people in England in May, according to the latest official figures.

Experts have also said that current Covid vaccines, which have been reformulated to combat Omicron descendants, are expected to remain effective against Nimbus.

According to the World Health Organisation, Nimbus, scientifically known as NB.1.8.1, now accounts for 10.7 per cent of Covid infections worldwide, compared to just 2.5 per cent a month prior.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA's deputy director, said the organisation was keeping a close eye on Nimbus.

'UKHSA is monitoring all available data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in our regular Flu and Covid-19 surveillance reports,' she said.

'NB.1.8.1 has been detected in small numbers in the UK to date, but international data suggests that it is growing as a proportion of all Covid-19 cases.'

Currently adults over the age of 75, care home residents, and those aged six months and over who have weakened immune systems are all eligible for a free Covid vaccine across the UK.

This includes organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant patients, people living with HIV, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy and those with genetic disorders affecting the immune system.

UKHSA data suggests people who had a Covid jab as part of last spring's booster campaign were 45 per cent less likely to need hospital care for the virus in the weeks that followed compared to the unvaccinated.

The agency has urged all people eligible for a vaccine to get jabbed to protect themselves from both NB.1.8.1 and Covid in general.