Rumors about "COVID-25" spread on social media, reaching millions of views - Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Rumors have been circulating on social media recently that a new strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 is “very different” from previous variants. Many are calling it “COVID-25,” claiming that doctors are warning of new symptoms and sharing lists of “telltale signs” on social media.
For example, someone calling himself “Dr. Tony” posted a video on TikTok listing new “symptoms,” including extreme fatigue, persistent sore throat, mild fever, severe headache, and digestive upset.
The video quickly garnered more than 3.1 million views and more than 114,000 likes. Although the clip does not say anything, the caption says that “the symptoms are not the same as before.” The person also encouraged viewers to search for the phrase “latest COVID symptoms 2025.”
However, according to the fact-checking organization Snopes, there is no “COVID-25” or new virus strain in the fall of 2025, but only two new variants of Omicron in circulation.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the above symptoms are not new but are all on the list of common manifestations of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea and loss of taste or smell.
The CDC emphasizes that symptoms can vary in severity, and severe illness may require hospitalization. Compare this list to the “newly reported symptoms” and they are not unusual.
Experts say that 2025 will see two sub-variants of Omicron, Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) and Stratus (XFG).
Nimbus typically causes a “knife-like sore throat,” accompanied by fatigue, mild cough, nasal congestion, fever, and muscle aches. The Stratus variant, which the World Health Organization (WHO) warns is better able to evade the immune system, often causes a persistent dry cough, fever, fatigue, sometimes accompanied by difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and “brain fog.”
Therefore, there is no “COVID-25” in existence, but only new variants of Omicron with slightly different symptoms, not a completely new strain of virus. Experts recommend that people rely on information from official sources such as WHO or CDC instead of believing viral posts on the internet.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thuc-hu-thong-tin-covid-25-co-chung-virus-moi-voi-trieu-chung-la-20251112104522819.htm
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