WHO warns of new Covid variant already in 38 countries with one key symptom
Health authorities worldwide are closely monitoring the spread of a new Covid-19 variant known as XFG, or Stratus, which has quickly become the fastest-spreading strain in circulation.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Stratus has already been detected in 38 countries and is estimated to account for around 22% of confirmed Covid cases in those regions.
What sets this variant apart is a distinctive symptom: hoarseness and a rough or altered voice. While common signs such as fever, cough, sore throat, and loss of taste remain present, the noticeable change in vocal tone has become a clinical clue for identifying this strain, alongside diagnostic testing.
Experts have described Stratus as a “Frankenstein variant” because it did not evolve from a single linear mutation but instead emerged when a person was infected simultaneously with two different variants — LF.7 and LP.8.1.2 — resulting in a more transmissible hybrid strain.
Its rapid spread has been evident in the United Kingdom, where the Health Security Agency reported that Stratus cases surged from 10% to 40% of all infections within a month.
Despite its contagiousness, the WHO has classified the public health risk as low. Stratus does not cause the severe throat pain associated with the Nimbus variant nor the more serious complications linked to earlier strains, such as Delta. Even so, its fast transmission rate means continued vigilance and preventive measures remain essential.
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