A new variant of COVID-19, known as “Stratus,” is spreading rapidly across the US and many European countries, according to recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO). The XFG variant, first detected in January in Southeast Asia, has seen a sharp increase in cases over the past few months.
While the WHO assesses the global risk from this variant as low, data shows a rise in infections in recent months. In Israel, the infection rate remains much lower, with only a few dozen new cases reported in the past week. However, experts warn that the pandemic is no longer following traditional “winter illness” patterns.
The XFG variant combines two previous variants and may offer some ability to evade the immune system, but it is unlikely to be as contagious as other dominant omicron variants. Current vaccines are expected to offer protection against symptomatic illness and severe disease.
What’s striking about this new variant is that it’s not following the usual pattern of viral diseases, which typically surge during winter months. The reasons for this are still unclear, but may be linked to changes in the virus’s structure or human behavior.
Symptoms of the “Stratus” variant are similar to those of recent COVID strains, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. In more severe cases, immediate medical attention is needed if there is difficulty breathing or chest pain.
While the overall public health risk remains low, the rapid spread of this new variant highlights the virus’s ability to adapt and change even five years after the pandemic began.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-863739