A leading infectious disease doctor has issued an urgent warning about the rise of two new Covid variants — nicknamed **‘Stratus’ and ‘Nimbus’** — now sweeping across the United States. According to The New York Times, cases have surged in several states over the past month, with hospitals beginning to see patterns of unusual symptoms that differ from earlier strains. The CDC confirmed that these variants are spreading rapidly, raising concerns of a fresh wave just as the country heads into winter.
Dr. Alan Richards, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins, told Reuters that while fever, fatigue, and cough remain common, the new variants appear to produce a **set of distinct warning signs** doctors want the public to recognize. Patients with Stratus frequently report severe sinus pressure, facial pain, and an unusual “burning throat sensation.” Nimbus, by contrast, is being linked to **night sweats, sudden dizziness, and gastrointestinal issues** rarely seen in earlier waves.
BREAKING: Doctors warn of ‘tell-tale signs’ of new Covid variants Stratus and Nimbus now spreading across the US. — @nytimes
Public health officials say these symptoms are important red flags because many patients initially mistake them for seasonal allergies, sinus infections, or food poisoning. As CNN reported, this has led to delayed testing and faster transmission within families and workplaces. “People dismiss what they think is a simple cold or stomach bug — but with these variants, that assumption is dangerous,” Dr. Richards warned.
Social media has been flooded with posts from people claiming to have experienced the new symptoms. Hashtags like **#StratusVariant** and **#NimbusCovid** quickly trended as stories circulated of patients with lingering dizziness, extreme sinus pain, and unexplained stomach cramps. According to The Washington Post, many of these posts echo the exact patterns doctors have begun documenting, giving health experts further reason to believe the variants are establishing a foothold nationwide.
Hashtags #StratusVariant and #NimbusCovid trend as Americans share stories of strange new symptoms. — @CNN
Doctors also noted that both variants seem to produce **longer-lasting fevers** compared to Omicron or Delta. As The Los Angeles Times explained, patients report temperatures persisting for more than a week, sometimes accompanied by swollen lymph nodes and chest tightness. These symptoms, while not always severe enough to require hospitalization, are raising alarms about potential long-term impacts similar to “long Covid.”
International health agencies are closely monitoring the variants as cases have also been reported in Canada, the UK, and Germany. BBC News highlighted that European scientists are particularly concerned about the high transmission rate, which appears to be faster than earlier Omicron subvariants. Some countries are already considering new travel advisories and testing requirements for incoming passengers from the US.
BBC: “Stratus and Nimbus appear to spread faster than earlier subvariants, raising global concerns.” — @BBCWorld
Experts are now urging Americans not to ignore unusual health changes this season. As Rolling Stone reported, doctors say that **testing immediately after noticing these new symptoms** is critical to slowing outbreaks. “It’s not about panic, it’s about awareness,” Dr. Richards stressed. “Recognizing the signs early could be the difference between containing these variants or watching another full-scale surge unfold.”
With hospitals bracing for an expected increase in cases, health officials are again pleading with the public to take precautions — including boosters, masking in crowded spaces, and staying home when sick. The rise of Stratus and Nimbus, they warn, is proof that the virus continues to evolve in ways that can catch society off guard. As one CDC official put it: “The pandemic isn’t over, it’s just changing shape.”