LOSS of taste and smell are 'less likely' to be symptoms of the new Covid-19 variant discovered in the UK, the latest data shows.
Those infected with the new variant were more likely to report 'classic' flu symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough, fatigue, and fever. They were also more likely to experience symptoms in general.
Just over half those testing positive with the new strain reported having symptoms, as opposed to just under 50% with the original strain.
The findings were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and are based on regular survey data collected from households across the UK. Participants self-diagnosed their symptoms for a survey spanning from 15 November to 16 January.
An ONS spokesperson said that while the prevalence of some symptoms had changed, "there is no evidence of difference in the gastrointestinal symptoms, shortness of breath or headaches."
Commenting on the news, Lawrence Young, a virologist and professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick, said that viral mutations could "influence the symptoms associated with infection".
"This variant is more transmissible and infected individuals appear to have higher virus loads which means they produce more virus. This could result in more widespread infection within the body, perhaps accounting for more coughs, muscle pain and tiredness," Prof Young said.
"The virus has 23 changes compared to the original Wuhan virus. Some of these changes in different parts of the virus could affect the body's immune response and also influence the range of symptoms associated with infection."
Though the new UK variant is more contagious than previous strains, Public Health England’s medical director, Prof Yvonne Doyle, warned that it was “too early to say” whether it’s also more deadly.
