Many of us know a friend or family member who has come down with nasty cold-like symptoms over the last few weeks. So If you've been struggling with a stubborn cough or sore throat that just won't shift, you may have caught one of the new strains of Covid. Whilst it may in fact be a simple cold or flu, there is talk of the resurgence of Covid thanks to new variants such as FLiRT and LB.
1. These have started to spread across the UK this summer with many falling ill, but what does this mean and how worried should we be - and what symptoms will you experience if you get this? Summertime is packed with opportunities to socialise and gather with hordes of people at crowded places such as festivals, and these events provide the perfect environment for viruses to spread. "Increased travel and big events such as festivals often result in crowded settings where the virus can spread more easily, and there is no longer any legal restrictions like wearing masks, social distancing," says Dr Mariyam Malik, an NHS and private GP at Pall Mall Medical.
Some health experts have also suggested that two new Covid variants, FLiRT and LB. 1, might be able evade immunity, which is why people who have been vaccinated are still getting ill. Malik added: "The FLiRT variant has specific changes in its spike protein that might make it spread more easily and dodge immunity from past infections or vaccines.
Similarly, the LB.1 variant has mutations that help it spread and possibly weaken the protection we.
