Covid-19 symptoms with mutated strain behind new wave of infections

Worried scientists are claiming that a new strain of coronavirus could potentially make vaccines less effective.

Hospital cases are once again on the rise, and with winter on the way, booster vaccines have been brought forward.

It is now estimated that there are Pirola cases in most UK regions, after it was first detected in Denmark back in July. As of September 18, the mutated strain of Omicron has now been confirmed in 54 positive Covid-19 cases – but with testing levels nowhere near those seen in 2021 and 2022, the true figure could be much higher.

The Government say that the main symptoms of Pirola are the classic ones that you would expect from other strains of Covid, such as high fever, a cough, a cold and a loss of taste and smell.

The Mirror reports that University of Nottingham virologist, Professor Jonathan Ball, said: “Pirola has made people sit up because of the unusually large number of mutations. Viruses naturally mutate to survive. But when there’s 30 or more mutations, scientists need to ask what that means

“Does it make vaccines less effective, could it transmit more easily than Omicron and does it cause more serious disease?”

The Department of Health and Social Care has now moved forward by a month with regards to a roll-out of autumn boosters – in a bid to get on top of the rising number of cases of the new strain. Those who are the most at risk could receive the jabs sooner than planned.

Health officials and ministers say that this well help reduce the pressure on the health service, while also buying scientists time to investigate Pirola further.