New COVID-19 Variant “Stratus” Spreads Globally, But Experts Remain Calm
A new variant of the continually mutating COVID-19 virus has health officials on alert as it spreads rapidly worldwide. Dubbed “Stratus,” the XFG strain is currently designated a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization (WHO), though experts emphasize the overall risk to public health remains low.
Rising Cases, Low Severity
The XFG strain, also known as the XFG variant, is gaining traction globally, with a particularly noticeable increase in cases and hospitalizations in Southeast Asia. Despite this uptick in illness, the WHO currently assesses the overall public health risk as low. Current data does not indicate that this variant causes more severe illness or death compared to other circulating strains.
“In most parts of the United States, we are in a pretty good place regarding respiratory illness, and most people should be enjoying their summer activities without too much worry,” stated a leading infectious disease expert. Nationally, wastewater surveillance indicates COVID-19 viral activity remains very low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the same expert cautioned that the emergence of the XFG variant could lead to a future increase in these levels.
Symptoms Remain Familiar, Testing Declines
Experts anticipate that the XFG variant will present symptoms similar to those of previous COVID-19 strains. Common symptoms include cough, runny nose, and fever. Recent reports suggest some individuals infected with the new variant are also experiencing hoarseness or a dry, irritated throat. However, one specialist in pediatric infectious diseases noted that hoarseness is not unique to XFG, as many respiratory viruses can cause similar symptoms.
Tracking the spread of XFG is proving challenging due to a decline in reported infections. The latest CDC data shows XFG accounts for approximately 14 percent of recent COVID-19 cases, while variants NB.1.8.1 and LP.8.1 comprise nearly three-quarters of reported infections. The CDC acknowledges that the limited number of reported cases impacts the precision of recent data. Similarly, tracking data from Walgreens, while available, suffers from the same limitations and lacks detailed sequencing information.
“As most folks with COVID do not get tested, or they use home test kits that are not reported, the data we have in the public health sequencing system is pretty scant and lags behind,” explained a public health official.
Vaccination Remains Key
The WHO emphasizes that the Stratus variant does not appear to cause more severe illness than recent previous strains. While a rise in COVID-19 cases is possible as summer progresses, experts do not anticipate a situation worse than last year. Even mild infections can be unpleasant, particularly given widespread prior infection or vaccination, which has altered the body’s immune response to the virus.
Public health authorities continue to underscore the importance of vaccination. “Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against this variant, protecting against symptomatic and severe disease,” the WHO stated. The CDC recommends staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines to significantly reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
The CDC also urges individuals to protect themselves and others through these preventative measures:
- Practicing good hygiene, including regular hand-washing
- Staying home and away from others if experiencing respiratory symptoms
- Seeking prompt healthcare for testing or treatment if at risk for severe illness
- Considering wearing a mask to lower the risk of transmission.
