Covid XFG cases rising: What is known about new strain
It has also been referred to as a "Frankenstein" or "recombinant" strain.
Today, WHO's Scientific Advisory Group on the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), a group convened by WHO, released a report on the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the #COVID19 pandemic.
For this report, SAGO reviewed peer-reviewed papers and reviews, as well as… pic.twitter.com/qosY4YCMcU
"This means it emerged when a person was infected with two Covid strains at once which then became a new hybrid variant," The Mirror explained.
Reports of the new variant are "growing rapidly", according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and it is showing some signs of "additional immune evasion" compared to others.
The WHO has placed Covid stratus "under monitoring" due to the rise in cases worldwide.
It is one of seven COVID-19 variants currently being monitored, along with the NB.1.8.1 strain, which is the dominant variant worldwide.
The coming COVID-19 Winter Surge in Australia will show the world where we are actually headed for..what is happening in South-Eats Asia and East Asia are just the 'preludes'...watch how NB.1.8.1 spawns are evolving including PQ.1, PQ.2 and even sub-lineages like PE.1.
However, the WHO stated that the risk posed by the new variant was "low," and that approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against it.
The world health experts, in a recent risk evaluation, said: "Several countries in the South-East Asia Region have reported a simultaneous rise in new cases and hospitalisations, where XFG has been widely detected.
"Current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness or deaths than other variants in circulation."
The WHO added: "The available evidence on XFG does not suggest additional public health risks relative to the other currently circulating Omicron descendent lineages."
Covid Stratus has already been detected in 38 different countries around the world.
The WHO added: "The detection of XFG is increasing across several countries in various regions that are consistently sharing SARS-CoV-2 sequences with stable to slightly increasing trend in viral activity and hospitalizations."
The new Stratus strain of Covid is currently the "most prevalent" in the UK, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Health organisations are yet to list any symptoms unique to Covid Stratus.
However, common symptoms of other COVID-19 variants, according to the NHS, include:
COVID-19 vaccines are available in the UK, and are usually offered on the NHS in spring and early winter.
The vaccine is available for those:
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The NHS said: "The COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change and protection fades over time. It's important to top up your protection if you're eligible."
The vaccine helps:
Eligible people can book in for a vaccination via the NHS website, the NHS App, or by attending a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site.
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