Doctors diagnose 'mystery illness' that's like 'swallowing razor blades' as symptoms go viral

You've likely noticed over the past couple of weeks that a new virus appears to be putting a downer on everybody's summer.

As the warmer months roll in, more and more people have been coming down with the same symptoms: fatigue, fever, muscle aches and notably a sore throat which feels like you're swallowing a mouthful razor blades with every gulp you take.

So what is it? Allergies? A run-of-the-mill cold which crops up every time the mercury rises up the thermometer – or something else entirely?

According to several health experts, the symptoms could indicate the resurgence of an old virus which upended all of our lives a few years ago.

That's right folks, there's a new variant of Coronavirus - the NB. 1.8.1 'Nimbus' variant - which is here to rain on your summer plans.

Feel like you've swallowed a razor blade? You might be suffering from this (Getty Stock Images)

What is the new Covid 'Nimbus' variant?

Five years on from the beginning of the pandemic and Covid is likely an afterthought for most people nowadays. However, the respiratory virus is still out there, with the NB. 1.8.1 variant following mutations such as Omicron and Delta variant.

Emerging in North America earlier this year, the Nimbus strain is now being monitored by the World Health Organisation as it continues to spread around the globe.

According to UKHSA, the first sample of the NB. 1.8.1 strain was recorded at the start of the year.

What are the symptoms of the Covid NB. 1.8.1 variant?

The main symptom of the Nimbus variant is a persistent and painful sore throat, which suffers are describing as feeling like 'swallowing razor blades'.

"Worst sore throat I've had since my last bout of strep throat when I was a teen. definitely felt like razor blades, for sure," wrote one person who was discussing the illness on a Reddit thread, while a second added: "The razor blade sore throat was something else though never had anything like that before."

There's a new strain of Covid to watch out for (Getty Stock Images)

Meanwhile, commenters reacting to recent TikTok post discussing the variant by Dr Jen Caudle shared their misery about how ill they'd been feeling. "We just got over it. We thought we had strep. I pray NOBODY gets this. Uggh," commented one person, while another revealed they'd 'never felt anything like' the sore throat pain before.

Alongside your throat feeling as though it's on fire, other symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Mild cough
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Nasal congestion

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea have also been reported by some patients.

Other symptoms include fatigue, a mild cough and a fever (Getty Stock Images)

What have health experts said about NB. 1.8.1?

As concern about transmission of the virus spreads on social media spreads, numerous doctors and health experts have weighed in on the subject.

According to current NHS guidance, anyone who has symptoms of covid should attempt to stay at home and avoid outside contact, guidance which is echoed by UKHSA.

Meanwhile UKHSA deputy director Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam suggested there is currently 'no evidence' that Nimbus will cause a more severe form of the disease.

"NB.1.8.1 has been detected in small numbers in the UK to date, but international data suggests that it is growing as a proportion of all Covid cases," he said.

"Based on the available information so far, however, there is no evidence to suggest that this variant causes more severe disease than previous variants, of that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against it."