New COVID Strain Spikes in Nine States
U.S. public‑health data show the XFG ("Stratus") variant of SARS‑CoV‑2 rising across nine states after being designated by WHO as a 'variant under monitoring.' CDC wastewater surveillance for the week of Sept. 15 identified XFG/Stratus as the predominant variant in the U.S.; health systems such as Stony Brook Medicine report mostly mild illness in vaccinated people but warn of symptoms ranging from persistent dry cough and fatigue to brain fog and shortness of breath. Officials and clinicians urge testing, up‑to‑date vaccinations for high‑risk groups, and standard precautions (masking, ventilation, hand hygiene).
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New virus strain spikes in 9 US states with symptoms from brain fog to persistent cough
New information:
- CDC wastewater monitoring (week of Sept. 15) identified XFG/Stratus as the predominant variant in U.S. wastewater data.
- Nine states with rising cases named in the report: New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
- WHO designated Stratus (XFG) a 'SATS‑CoV‑2 variant under monitoring' and reported spread to 38 countries by June; Stony Brook Medicine described typical symptoms and recommended clinical thresholds for seeking care (e.g., fever >103°F for >3 days).