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WHO Classifies Omicron Subvariant XFG ‘Stratus’ as Variant Under Monitoring, Projects Summer Circulation

Existing vaccines continue to protect against the strain with no evidence of increased severity

Die neue Corona-Variante "Stratus" ist derzeit unter Beobachtung der Weltgesundheitsorganisation.
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Overview

  • The WHO designated XFG, nicknamed Stratus, as a Variant Under Monitoring on June 25 after its share of global sequences rose from 7.4% to 22.7% within four weeks
  • Stratus is a recombinant of LF.7 and LP.8.1.2 with 1,648 sequences reported from 38 countries to GISAID
  • The variant accounts for nearly 69% of infections in Southeast Asia, dominates outbreaks in India and represents about 17% of cases in Europe
  • Clinicians report hoarseness as the hallmark symptom of Stratus infections while surveillance data show no increase in hospitalizations or deaths
  • WHO assesses the variant’s immune escape potential as low and expects current COVID-19 vaccines and antivirals to remain effective