The new variant XFG, or “Stratus,” has become the third-most dominant strain of COVID-19 this summer and is driving up case estimates in Florida.
Stratus is similar in symptoms and seriousness to other Omicron variants, but it may present a never-before-seen symptom: hoarseness.
New data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Stratus accounted for 14 percent of COVID-19 cases in late June. Stratus was first detected in Southeast Asia in January, but didn’t show up in U.S. surveillance reports until May, when it represented 0 percent of infections. The World Health Organization classified XFG as a “variant under monitoring” in June.
The CDC said that as of July 29, its COVID-19 forecasting models show infection rates in Florida are growing.
Overall, the projections show infections are growing or likely to grow in 40 states and are unchanged in nine others. The highest rates of transmission are in the South, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Midwest.
The public health agency also said COVID viral activity in wastewater remains “low” nationally, but at least 10 states had “high” or “very high” levels, as of July 12.
With 13 sites reporting, viral activity in Florida is currently high.
For the seven-day period ending July 31, 2.14 percent of emergency room visits in Florida had been for COVID-19.
