Global health specialists have reported new omicron symptoms that differ from previous strains of covid.
Although initial reports have indicated that the new variant may cause only "mild illness", experts around the globe are racing to find out more information.
The new strain, which according to conflicting reports was first detected in either Europe or South Africa, is causing body aches and fatigue in some patients, among other new symptoms.
READ MORE - Scotland's tenth Omicron case has no direct link to previous nine from private event
As reported by the Daily Record, worries remain that omicron is spreading faster, and is more resistant to vaccines, than previous covid variants.
An official from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that most people so far who have caught omicron have not been presenting severe illness - but stressed that more data is required.
WHO adviser Dr Maria Van Kerkhove said: “In terms of the severity profile, we have seen reports of cases with Omicron that go from mild disease all the way to severe disease.
“There is some indication that some of the patients are presenting with mild disease, but again it is early days. We do have a surveillance bias right now in terms of the cases that are being detected.
“There is also a suggestion of increased hospitalisations across South Africa, but that could be the sheer fact that we have more cases.
“If you have more cases you will have more hospitalisations.”
Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, said the main symptoms of Omicron to look out for are:
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Headache
She described one “very interesting case” of a six-year-old girl who had “a temperature and a very high pulse rate”.
Meanwhile, a health director in Botswana said 16 out of 19 people infected had no symptoms, while the other three had “very, very mild” illness.
It comes as the tenth omicron case in Scotland was confirmed yesterday, with no direct link to the previous nine.
