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XFG Stratus COVID-19 variant rises globally and dominates in Germany
Global COVID-19 infection rates are rising, with significant increases observed in China, the United States, and parts of Asia. In France, rising virus concentrations have been detected in wastewater, particularly following the start of the school year.
In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports that while the SARS-CoV-2 load in wastewater remains low, there is a slight upward trend. The XFG variant, also known as ‘Stratus’, has become the dominant strain in the country. This variant is a recombination of the LF.7 and LP.8.1.2 strains and was first identified in Canada in January 2025.
Reported symptoms of the XFG variant include typical cold symptoms such as dry cough and sore throat, alongside diarrhea, extreme fatigue, and notable hoarseness. Meanwhile, influenza levels in Germany currently remain low.
Entities
Canada · China · France · Germany · Robert Koch Institute · XFG Stratus
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Symptoms of the XFG variant include dry cough, sore throat, diarrhea, and unusual hoarseness. www.hna.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Influenza virus levels in Germany are currently low. www.hna.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] XFG is currently the dominant COVID-19 variant in Germany. www.hna.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The XFG variant was first registered in Canada on January 27, 2025. www.hna.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The XFG variant, nicknamed ‘Stratus’, is a recombination of the LF.7 and LP.8.1.2 variants. www.hna.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The SARS-CoV-2 load in German wastewater is currently low but shows a slight upward trend. www.hna.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de