New Stratus COVID Variant Spreads Rapidly in the UK

A new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, Stratus, officially labeled as XFG and XFG.3, is a currently occurring variant in the UK which is rapidly spreading. Data provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows the variant's rise in recent weeks has now made up between ~30% to ~40% of COVID-19 cases in England. These rapidly increasing numbers show Stratus might be more transmissible than prior variants.

Stratus is a recombinant variant, meaning Stratus was created when two different variants of COVID-19 virus created the new variant from the inside of a single infected person. Scientists have noted that recombinant strains like this whose lineage is similar to others, at times called "Frankenstein" viruses, can carry mutations/deletions from multiple prior versions of the virus which can potentially allow the new variant a replication/transmissibility advantage or extend void/immunity.

While the Stratus variant has spread rapidly, initial research and experts tell us that it is not associated with more severe illness. People getting it most commonly report mild to moderate symptoms. The WHO has not raised the alarm about it, but have labeled it a ‘variant under monitoring.’ Health experts continue to see how this behaves over time, especially as levels of vaccination and natural immunity change.

Some of the most pronounced early symptoms of the new Stratus variant include a hoarse or scratchy voice. Unlike prior variants that primarily cause fever and a persistent cough, this variant is now beginning to indicate that it is likely more directly impacting the voice box. Doctors in the UK have noted that a lot of people infected with Stratus are reporting voice changes early on, sometimes even before symptoms such as fever and cough.

Hoarseness is one of the other common COVID symptoms that could still occur, along with sore throat, fatigue, dry cough, low-grade fever, etc. Most notably, the change in voice is becoming one of the clearer examples to identify that a person could have picked up this new strain.

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Our experts keep reminding people that while this variant appears to be less severe, we still have to take symptoms seriously-in particular with the increased infections in Summer. Public health recommendations remain unchanged: stay home if you feel unwell; test if you become symptomatic; and continue to get vaccinated. Anyone eligible for booster doses, please get them, as vaccines are still protecting against COVID-19 severe illness, including new variants.

Image Source: gavi.org