As we head into colder months, it\u2019s normal for respiratory illnesses like colds, flu and COVID <\/a>to spike. And this year is no exception, with new variants emerging alongside the usual winter bugs.<\/p>\n That means more people will be asking the same questions: What are the latest COVID strains, what symptoms should we look out for, and what\u2019s the best advice if we test positive (or don\u2019t have access to a test but feel unwell)?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what we currently know.<\/p>\n What are the latest COVID variants?<\/p>\n According to the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data<\/a>, the most common COVID strains right now are XFG and NB.1.8.1 \u2013 otherwise known as the Stratus and Nimbus variants.<\/p>\n Last month, Stratus<\/a> accounted for around 35% of sequenced cases, while Nimbus<\/a> made up 11%.<\/p>\n So far, there\u2019s no evidence to suggest these strains cause more severe illness than earlier variants. As the UKHSA points out, viruses mutate all the time, and most changes don\u2019t make them more dangerous.<\/p>\n The most important step if you\u2019re eligible is still to take up your seasonal COVID vaccination<\/a> when offered, as this provides the best protection against serious illness.<\/p>\n If you don’t feel well enough to work, the advice is to stay at home if possible and avoid contact with vulnerable people. (Getty Images)<\/p>\n The difference between Stratus and Nimbus COVID strains<\/p>\n Both the Nimbus and Stratus variants started spreading more widely over the summer, with Stratus overtaking other strains to become the most common by July 2025, according to UK data<\/a>.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled both Stratus and Nimbus as “variants under monitoring.”<\/a> That means scientists are keeping a close eye on them, but neither is thought to cause more serious disease than past versions of the virus.<\/p>\n Some reports have suggested Stratus may cause hoarseness, while Nimbus<\/a> has been linked with what people describe as a “razor blade throat” \u2013 a sore throat that feels especially painful when speaking or swallowing.<\/p>\n While these symptoms haven’t been included in official NHS guidance, they highlight how COVID can affect everyone slightly differently.<\/p>\n Read more: COVID or flu? Here’s how to tell the difference<\/a><\/p>\n What are the latest symptoms of COVID for 2025?<\/p>\n COVID symptoms continue to overlap heavily with other respiratory infections<\/a>, which makes them tricky to distinguish without a test.<\/p>\n![\"Very](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/e1fbd360-9cf2-11ee-bbef-c9104e679f34.jpeg\"\/)
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