Two novel Covid strains, including one described as a “super-contagious Frankenstein” variant, are swiftly spreading throughout the UK, prompting warnings from health experts.
The XFG strain, referred to as “Stratus”, has become the predominant Covid variant in England, according to figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). A related offshoot known as XFG.3 is also circulating, and together, these variants may “lead to a new wave of infection,” warned Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick.
Stratus is believed to be more transmissible than earlier Covid strains due to mutations that allow it to slip past the immune system. The variant’s prevalence has surged from around 10 per cent of all Covid cases in May to nearly 40 per cent by mid-June.
Professor Young, a researcher at Warwick Medical School, further explained: “The increased competitiveness of XFG and XFG.3 is likely due to new spike mutations which make these variants more able to evade the immune response.”
Stratus is a descendant of the highly infectious Omicron variant and is categorised as a Frankenstein or “recombinant” strain, meaning it originated when an individual was simultaneously infected with two different Covid strains, leading to a new hybrid variant, reports the Mirror.
However, there is no current evidence to suggest that Stratus leads to more severe illness. Professor Young emphasised that scientific data indicates receiving a Covid vaccine is “very likely” to provide protection against severe disease and hospitalisation.
He told Mail Online: “Given that immunity to Covid is waning in the population due to a decline in uptake of the spring booster jab and the reduction of Covid infections in recent months, more people will be susceptible to infection with XFG and XFG.3. This could lead to a new wave of infection but it’s difficult to predict the extent of this wave.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week labelled the strain as a “variant under monitoring”, prompting health authorities worldwide to track its spread due to potential public health consequences.
Symptoms of the variant mirror those found in other Covid strains, including shortness of breath, nausea, loss or change in smell or taste, and reduced appetite.
Despite concerns over the Stratus variant, data indicates a downward trend in overall Covid cases compared to previous weeks, with only 5.4 per cent of tests analysed by UKHSA in the week ending June 29 returning positive results for the virus.
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