As a new Covid variant gains momentum, scientists are increasingly noticing unexpected symptoms of the disease, including anxiety and sleep problems.
The Omicron offshoot JN.1 accounts for about 44 percent of the Covid cases currently circulating in the US, up from just 21 percent two weeks ago.
And in addition to the well-known symptoms of a runny nose, cough and headache, two more signs can now be added to the list, according to scientists.
Anxiety and insomnia have only recently become features of the infection, according to new research data collected by health authorities in Britain – where the JN.1 strain accounts for 10 percent of cases.
Meanwhile, loss of taste or smell, once considered common symptoms of Covid, are not reported as often as they once were.
The characteristics of outbreaks in the UK traditionally offer insight into what will happen in the US.
Feelings of anxiety and trouble sleeping were not previously considered symptoms of infection. But British health authorities are now reporting it as such, just as a new variant is gaining momentum worldwide
An increase in hospitalizations in the US in recent months has been accompanied by an increased prevalence of the JN.1 subvariant, but hospitalization rates are still much lower than they were at this time last year
Now scientists suspect that fear can also be a sign that someone has become infected – but the question remains why.
According to the Winter Covid report from the Office For National Statistics in the United Kingdom, more than 10 percent of Britons suffering from Covid have reported consistent anxiety or excessive worry since the beginning of November.
JN.1 appeared in the UK in late October, suggesting that a significant proportion of people surveyed from mid-November may be infected with this sub-variant.
Sleep problems are also becoming more and more common. About nine percent of people reported this as a symptom in November. This ratio has now risen to nearly 11 percent.
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British scientists suggested that the most common symptoms of infection with the JN.1 variant were a runny nose (31 percent of patients), cough (23 percent) and headache (20 percent).
Almost 20 percent reported weakness and fatigue and 16 percent reported muscle pain.
Interestingly, reports of altered senses of taste and smell have decreased by 42 percent since the start of the pandemic.
But whether a person experiences some or all of these symptoms, including those not widely reported, depends largely on each individual’s health and immunity to the virus.
According to the CDC, Covid symptoms are generally “similar across variants.”
The increasing incidence of less expected symptoms suggests that the virus is getting better at evading people’s immune systems. However, this does not prove that the strain is more virulent and deadly than previous strains.
There are signs that Covid is on the rise. The CDC has COVID activity in wastewater was classified as “very high”. – the highest benchmark according to agency statistics.
Meanwhile, daily Covid hospitalizations have increased by about 17 percent over the past two weeks.
The new variant was first discovered in the US in September and accounted for just 0.1 percent of Covid cases in October.
JN.1 is very similar to the previous BA.2.86 variant, with only a single change that mutates in the virus’ spike protein.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
