A concerning new strain of COVID-19 is on the rise in the United States and has been detected in wastewater in many states, with 19 states reporting "high" or "very high" levels of the "Stratus" COVID-19 variant, also known as XFG COVID-19.
Surpassing this past year's "Nimbus" variant, Stratus—which was first detected in Southeast Asia in January, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—is now the dominant strain in COVID cases in Nevada, Utah, Connecticut, and Delaware. The lowest cases are found in Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, and Michigan. This is from data gathered and reported between Sept. 14 and 20.
The CDC reports that nationally, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently moderate.
The Stony Brook Medicine Health Hub
reports on what to look for regarding Stratus, the latest COVID-19 virus mutation that is gaining a foothold in America.
Beyond America, Stratus is spreading in 38 countries, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the new variant carefully.
As the Nimbus variant ebbs and Stratus grows, some
differences are notable.
The so-called "razor blade" sore throat of Nimbus came with a side of high-infection rates and an uncanny ability to bind to human cells.
On the other hand, Stratus,
notes Stony Brook Medicine, exhibits "marginal additional immune evasion" over Nimbus, according to the WHO. Essentially, the Stratus variant can hide better from detection by the immune system than Nimbus. As the report notes, this characteristic can "make it harder for the body to fight off the virus." But the "marginal" designation suggests the difference is small and should not be a major concern for most folks.
Stratus Symptoms
Stony Brook Medicine suggests that most cases of Stratus are mild, especially for those already vaccinated and boosted.
And like previous versions of COVID-19, the 2025 Stratus mutation offers up common symptoms, including:
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Persistent, dry cough
- Fever
- Headaches and body aches
- Chest tightness
- Upset stomach, nausea, and loss of appetite
- Sore or scratchy throat
- Loss of senses like taste and smell
- "Brain fog" or difficulty concentrating
The good news is that
treatment for the Stratus variant of COVID-19 is available in the form of over-the-counter medications and antiviral treatments like Paxlovid. Also, at-home care like rest and hydration is important to a successful recovery.
Also, pain relievers containing ibuprofen and acetaminophen are good at helping reduce headaches, body aches, and fever. While doing that, isolating yourself for at least five days can help you and those around you.
Finally, doctors recommend monitoring your symptoms with a home oxygen monitor. That way, while you are treating your symptoms, you can make sure your oxygen levels stay above 95 percent.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, a
senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, has also served on U.S. government panels tasked with developing guidelines for the treatment of plague, botulism, and anthrax in mass casualty settings.
Adalja recently told
Prevention magazine that Stratus "appears to be marginally more contagious than the prior dominant variant."
NTD reached out to Adalja for additional comment, but had yet to receive a reply.
