From the Covid Pirola variant to RSV – 7 viruses in circulation right now and how to spot them | The Sun

From the Covid Pirola variant to RSV – 7 viruses in circulation right now and how to spot them | The Sun

09/13/2023

BRITONS will soon be able to monitor a range of common viruses in a similar way to how cases were tracked during the Covid pandemic.

A new Government dashboard will showing trends in bugs across Britain.

These will include colds and flu, with hospital admissions and deaths also being shown.

Despite the WHO declaring the end of the pandemic earlier this year, coronavirus remains in circulation.

But what other viruses should Brits be aware of?

Covid

A new Covid vaccination drive was brought forward due to fears over the Pirola variant.

Read more on health

Millions to get Covid jabs from TODAY as fears over Pirola spark early rollout

New Pirola variant is ‘most concerning since Omicron’ as cases suddenly spike

The highly mutated BA.2.86 strain caused an outbreak in a care home in Norwich.

There is currently no evidence to suggest Pirola causes any new symptoms that aren’t already common with other Omicron variants.

According to the ZOE study, these include: 

  • Runny nose
  • Headache
  • Tiredness
  • Sneezing
  • Sore throat

Most read in Health

TOP TRUSTS

Map reveals best and worst NHS trusts to be a patient – where does yours rank?

LAST MEAL

Man, 20, found dead in his bed by parents after he reheated common pasta dish

SIT WITH IT

How your job could ‘rapidly increase’ your risk of developing dementia

MAJOR ALERT

Warning for Ireland rugby fans over major botulism outbreak in France

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus normally causes cold-like symptoms in adults.

However, it can be more dangerous in children and the elderly, wit the virus is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in infants.

Symptoms of the chest infection include:

  • breathing more quickly
  • finding it difficult to feed or eat
  • noisy breathing (wheezing)
  • becoming irritable

Flu

Britain faced a twindemic of Covid and flu last year, and the latter is expected to pick up again this winter.

Flu jabs are also being rolled out to eligible Brits currently, in the hope of keeping infections low in the most vulnerable.

Signs include:

  • a sudden high temperature
  • an aching body
  • feeling tired or exhausted
  • a dry cough
  • a sore throat
  • a headache
  • difficulty sleeping
  • loss of appetite
  • diarrhoea or tummy pain
  • feeling sick and being sick

Parainfluenza

Human parainfluenza viruses can cause infections in infants and young children but most recover on their own.

In serious cases, they can develop more severe illnesses like pneumonia.

Symptoms are similar to the common cold, including:

  • fever
  • runny nose
  • cough
  • sneezing
  • sore throat

Adenovirus

Another common cold virus currently in circulation is adenovirus.

It hit the headlines last year over links to a mystery hepatitis outbreak in children, believed to be caused by low immunity from successive lockdowns during the pandemic.

It normally causes mild symptoms but can also cause conjunctivitis.

Signs of infection are:

  • Sore throat  
  • Jaw pain
  • Gritty sensation and watering eyes 

Rhinovirus

Rhinovirus is the most frequent cause of the common cold. 

Symptoms include:

  • Cough
  • Sneeze
  • Runny Nose
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Body Aches
  • Fever

Human metapneumovirus

Human metapneumovirus is another respiratory virus to watch out for.

Like many on the list, infections are usually mild but can be more dangerous in children and old people.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Woman shot dead at manor that featured on BBC show as man arrested

Helen Flanagan branded ‘embarrassing’ by mum-shamers as she poses on lunch date

Signs include:

  • cough runny nose
  • nasal congestion
  • sore throat
  • fever

Source: Read Full Article