Overview

• WHO designated XFG as a “variant under monitoring” on June 25, placing it in the early-warning tier below variants of interest and concern.
• Global sequence data show XFG samples rose from 7% of submissions in early May to nearly 23% by late June, with confirmed cases in 38 countries.
• U.K. health authorities estimate XFG accounts for about 30% of new COVID-19 infections while U.S. CDC figures report roughly 14% of recent cases as the subvariant.
• Genetic analyses reveal that XFG arose from a recombination of Omicron subvariants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2 within the JN.1 lineage and carries nine additional spike protein mutations compared to NB.1.8.1.
• Laboratory and animal studies indicate that existing JN.1-targeted vaccines and antiviral drugs such as nirmatrelvir and remdesivir are likely to remain effective against XFG.