Covid Variant Stratus: A new Covid-19 variant, called XFG or “Stratus,” is spreading fast across the United States. This strain is highly contagious and can dodge some defenses of the immune system. Because of this, it has quickly replaced the NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus) strain as the most common type in the country. The spread is happening as the US enters the fall respiratory virus season, when flu, RSV, and common cold cases usually rise.
By September 20, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Covid activity is “moderate” nationwide. But 19 states, including Nevada, Utah, Connecticut, and Delaware, are seeing “high” or “very high” levels of the virus.
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Stratus is a mix of two Omicron sub-strains. Doctors first found it in Southeast Asia in January 2025, and it reached the US in spring. According to News 18, by June, the variant had been detected in 38 countries. Because of this, the World Health Organization listed it as a “variant under monitoring.”
Covid Variant Stratus: Symptoms and Risks
Doctors say Stratus often causes hoarseness and scratchy or sore throats. These symptoms can look like seasonal allergies. Unlike Nimbus, which caused a sharp “razor blade throat” this summer, most Stratus cases are mild, especially in vaccinated people. But experts warn that Stratus has unique mutations that help it avoid antibodies from past infections or vaccines, making it harder to stop.
Public health officials remind people to take simple precautions. They advise staying home if sick, practicing good hygiene, improving air flow indoors, and staying up to date on vaccines. Earlier this month, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the updated 2025–2026 Covid vaccines for everyone aged six months and older, after talking with healthcare providers.
