XFG COVID-19 variant drives surge in hospitalizations

The XFG variant, also known as ‘Stratus’, is driving a significant increase in COVID-19 activity across Europe and other regions. In England, hospitalizations rose from 950 in August to 4,939 in September, representing a 420% increase in just one month. Reported cases in the same period grew by over 230%.

An Omicron descendant resulting from the recombination of existing viral lineages, XFG has been detected in the United Kingdom, the United States, and parts of Southeast Asia. While the variant is spreading, the World Health Organization (WHO) currently considers the global public health risk to be low.

Health authorities, including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), note that there is currently no evidence suggesting XFG causes more severe disease than previous Omicron variants. In the European Union, vaccine formulas for the 2026-2027 season have already been adapted to target this specific variant.