Winter lurgy: The ‘worst ever’ Covid-like infection spreading in the UK

Increasing number of people across the UK are complaining about a bug that feels like Covid-19 but isn’t. Many say they’re testing negative for the coronavirus, although they experience symptoms of it, even worse. It is thought that the cold and flu symptoms that seem to be spreading across Britain are much worse than pre-Covid days.

Worse than Covid

Thousands of people are reporting symptoms such as nasty coughs, headaches and blocked noses with many saying they were shocked when their lateral tests came back negative for Covid-19.

TV writer Daran Little is one of the thousands of people left confused by the symptoms they’ve been experiencing. He took to Twitter to ask if others were coming down with something that feels like Covid but isn't?

This simple question generated more than 30,00o likes with hundreds of Twitter users sharing their ordeal. One such user wrote:

Just getting over 4 weeks of headache, earache and general flu like symptoms. Wasn’t Covid, actually felt far worse than when I had Covid. It totally wiped the whole family out, horrid!

Another, replying to Daran’s original tweet lamented:

5 weeks now - not a chest infection according to doctor but viral infection. No let-up and it never seems to be better, everyday is just the same and it’s so draining.

Should you be worried?

Health officials predicted an avalanche of bugs this winter as Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, and social events go up especially during the festive season. There’s been an outbreak of strep A and flu and cold-like symptoms are being reported regularly. Dr Rob Barnett, secretary of the Liverpool Local Medical Committee, told the Liverpool Echo:

We always see an increase in colds and other winter illnesses at this time of year, but for most people, symptoms will get better without treatment, or with medicines readily available from local pharmacies, and they don’t need to see a GP.

Sources used:

The Mirror: Brits complain of 'worst ever' winter bug sweeping nation that feels like Covid but isn't

Manchester Evening News: 'Not Covid' lurgy leaving Mancunians 'floored' and worse than when they had the virus