If your current social life consists mainly of swapping Lemsip for tissues and dodging colleagues who are “bravely” powering through a hacking cough, welcome to the winter of 2025. It’s that magical time of year when the air is crisp, the nights are long, and the local pharmacy looks like a scene from a disaster movie.
But this year, the usual “winter lurgy” has brought some friends. We aren’t just dealing with the common cold; we’ve got a record breaking early flu season and a duo of Covid variants that sound more like atmospheric phenomena than viruses. Here is how to navigate the soup of germs without losing your mind or your voice.
The “Super Flu”: Not Just a Scary Name
You might have heard the term “Super Flu” whispered in GP waiting rooms. While it sounds like a rejected Marvel villain, it’s actually a mutated strain of Influenza A (H3N2) called subclade K.
The doctors are on high alert because this particular guest arrived a month earlier than expected, with hospital admissions hitting their highest levels for this time of year since 2003. It’s aggressive, it’s early, and it’s currently the dominant strain across the world. The good news? The current vaccines are still putting up a fight, especially in children, so that “Jab SOS” from the doctor isn’t just for show.
Stratus and Nimbus: The Covid Comeback
Just when you thought you’d memorised all the Greek letters, Covid has gone meteorological. The two dominant variants right now are Stratus (XFG) and Nimbus (NB.1.8.1).
If you wake up feeling like you’ve swallowed a bag of rusty nails, you’re likely meeting Nimbus. It’s famous for the “razor blade throat” a sore throat so sharp it makes drinking water feel like a dare. Stratus, on the other hand, is the sneakiest of the two, proving better at dodging our immune systems and sticking around for a persistent, raspy cough that outstays its welcome like a bad houseguest.
Is it a cold, flu or Covid?
Colds
Symptoms appear gradually
Mostly affect nose and throat
Early sign – pressure in your ears
Chestier, mucus cough
Flu
Comes on suddenly
Feel wiped out
Fever, muscle aches, exhaustion
Need bed rest
Dry cough
Covid
Typical flu symptoms
Loss of taste or smell
Diarrhoea or tummy upset
If a cold’s coming on, then it often does so gradually.
It’s going to affect your nose and the back of your throat, while some will get a tickling at the back of the mouth. Another early warning sign can be a build up of pressure in the ear. If the virus spreads further, it can reach your lungs and cause a pesky cough. Mostly however, these symptoms don’t stop us from carrying on as normal.
The same can’t be said for flu, which typically adds aches, fevers and muscle weakness into the mix. Flu doesn’t mean you have to go to bed, but it might make you feel that way, says Dr Duke. Since the pandemic, Covid has complicated things further, with similar symptoms to flu. But one key Covid-specific identifier can be a loss of smell or taste. Another, seen with newer variants Stratus and Nimbus that are still around, is a “razor-sharp” sore throat. Diarrhoea is also common. The recommendation is to stay home and rest and recover.
However, if you have underlying conditions, experience breathlessness or find symptoms don’t ease after three weeks, then you shouldn’t hesitate to seek medical advice.
Can I help make myself better?
Our bodies naturally fight viruses and infection, but we can also give it a helping hand with the right medication.
Paracetamol: Provided you’re okay to take it, this or ibuprofen is the first port of call. Both are really good for helping to bring the fever down and softening any pain that you might have. But remember that lots of cough and cold mixtures include traces of paracetamol, so make sure you’re not accidentally taking too much.
Vitamin D: A top up of vitamin D in colder months is recommended by the NHS, because let’s face it, we don’t usually get much sunlight at this time of year.
Decongestant spray: Sure, they feel great and provide instant relief, but using sprays too often can cause rebound congestion when your nose becomes dependent and swells without a fix. I suggest using them for no more than four of five days.
Chicken soup: There’s little evidence of the dish fighting viruses directly, but its heat can help warm the back of your throat and soothe some of those symptoms. It’s also a good way to take on extra fluids, with hydration vital as you battle infection.
Vitamin C: This is often thought to help defend against colds. But there’s not a huge amount of evidence for this. Unless you’re deficient, focusing on a healthy, balanced diet is far more important.
Related topics: Health
