A new COVID-19 variant named XFG, or “Stratus,” is rapidly spreading across nine U.S. states, according to the CDC.
The affected states include New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
The World Health Organization warns that Stratus may mutate in ways that make it more aggressive toward the immune system than previous strains like Nimbus.
Researchers at Stony Brook University report that while vaccinated individuals typically experience mild symptoms, those unvaccinated may face more severe issues.
These symptoms may include brain fog, nausea, chest tightness, and throat irritation, in addition to common symptoms like fatigue, fever, and dry cough.
