Stratus Variant Becomes Most Common COVID Strain

Quick Smiles:

• The XFG “Stratus” COVID-19 variant is spreading quickly but reported as low risk for severe illness.
• Experts say current vaccines still offer protection, and severe cases remain much lower than at previous pandemic peaks.
• Communities are responding to the wave with ongoing monitoring and optimism for a safe back-to-school season.

COVID-19 cases are rising across the U.S., especially as students return to school, with hospitals seeing more visits across all age groups.

The surge is largely driven by the new XFG variant, known as “Stratus,” which has rapidly become the dominant strain nationwide according to CDC wastewater data.

“(XFG) is part of the very large omicron family of variants,” Dr. William Schaffner explained.

This variant is a hybrid of two prior Omicron strains and features mutations that help it spread easily and evade antibodies, but international health authorities still report a low public health risk.

While infection rates are increasing, particularly in the West and South, data show hospitalizations remain much lower than previous pandemic surges, keeping health experts cautiously optimistic.

Wastewater data indicate XFG now accounts for more than 40% of sequenced samples in the U.S., and as much as 65% in some networks, reflecting how quickly Stratus has overtaken other variants.

“COVID-19 continues to rise, with (wastewater) concentrations increasing by approximately 60% from last month,” a WastewaterSCAN spokesperson shared.

Even with the increase, vaccines appear to retain their ability to protect against severe disease, helping communities stay resilient during this late summer wave.

Stay hopeful and informed—public health monitoring and ongoing vaccinations help keep everyone safer during these changing times.

Source