Concerns have surfaced regarding a novel Covid strain that is spreading more rapidly than earlier variants, featuring a symptom that might be easily overlooked.
Known as Stratus, this strain comprises two distinct versions – XFG and XFG.3 – initially identified in January. In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) flagged XFG for ‘monitoring’ due to its escalating global prevalence.
Early September saw a 7.1% uptick in Covid cases across England, as reported by the UK Health Security Agency, though the exact impact of the XFG strain remains unclear.
Meanwhile, health professionals in Ireland recorded 425 new cases in the first week of September, with the XFG variant responsible for the majority of infections.
Despite sharing similarities with previous strains, the new variant exhibits noteworthy differences. Umar Razzaq from PharmacyOnline outlined the distinctive features.
Razzaq highlighted that the ‘Stratus’ variant, originating in Southeast Asia in early 2025 and now prevalent in the UK, typically causes mild to moderate symptoms, akin to common Covid signs such as cough, fever, and fatigue.
This variant is particularly associated with a sore throat and hoarse voice, symptoms that patients might easily miss. Recovery duration varies from 5-10 days for mild cases to 1-2 weeks for healthy individuals, extending to 2-4 weeks for those with underlying health conditions.
Patients are advised to adhere to standard Covid precautions and seek medical attention for severe symptoms. Dr. Kader emphasized the contagious nature of the Stratus variant despite causing milder infections, attributing the recent rise in cases to changing weather conditions facilitating virus transmission indoors.
Dr. Kader recommended three key steps to minimize infection risks and urged vigilance for the 18 recognized Covid symptoms.