People with the highly contagious UK strain of COVID-19 are less likely to report sky-high fevers than those with the original illness, according to a study released Wednesday.
But patients with the newer virus variant report suffering from a sore throat, aching muscles and fatigue more often, according to the survey, released by Britain’s, Office for National Statistics.
Symptoms of the new strain differ from the three main ones associated with the original COVID-19 virus — fever, continuous cough and loss of smell or taste, the UK Sun reported, citing the survey and health officials.
“People testing positive compatible with the new UK variant were more likely to report any symptoms and the classic symptoms, but were less likely to report loss of taste and smell,” the Office for National Statistics said in the survey. “There was no evidence of difference in the percentages reporting gastrointestinal symptoms.”
The report ultimately noted that people infected with the newer strain were much less likely to report suffering from high body temperatures.
It also found no major difference in reports of shortness of breath or headaches from patients with the UK virus variant.
By contrast, the UK’s National Health Service has said the three main symptoms of original COVID-19 strain are fever, cough and loss of taste or smell.
The strain, which was first detected in Kent, England in September, is now believed to be up to 70 percent more contagious than other forms of the virus.
