XFG Covid strain driving rise in UK cases and hospital admissions

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 12:37 · Archive

The XFG Covid strain, also known as American Covid, is behind a sharp increase in UK cases and hospital admissions.

The XFG Covid strain, also known as American Covid or Stratus, is behind a sharp increase in cases across the UK. Hospital admissions involving Covid jumped from 950 in August to 4,939 in September, with more than half of positive tests linked to XFG. Deaths also rose, with 28 Covid deaths reported in England in the latest week, up nine on the week before. The strain was first identified in January 2025 and has since spread worldwide, gaining its nickname after becoming the most common strain in North America.

Symptoms of XFG are similar to other variants that have circulated widely, including a sore throat typically being the earliest sign, followed by cough and fever. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, headache, a blocked or runny nose, aches and pains, and fatigue. The NHS advises that if you have a high temperature, you should self-isolate at home and avoid contact with others until the symptom has passed.

Dr Alex Allen, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, says while Covid activity has shown recent increases, cases remain at low levels in the UK. He stresses that viruses changing over time is completely normal and that the strains currently circulating are closely related to strains present for over a year. The UKHSA reports no evidence that XFG is making people more ill or spreading faster than before, and this year's autumn vaccine has been specifically designed to protect against it.

How it is being reported

• NHS Covid isolation rule for anyone with one XFG symptomThe ‘American Covid' strain is driving up cases across the UK.Daily Express · 11 Oct, 12:19
• 'American Covid' rising in UK - pharmacist shares 12 symptoms to watch forXFG (Stratus) is the main strain currently affecting people in the UK, also known as American covidThe Mirror · 11 Oct, 07:48

In this story: UKHSA · NHS · World Health Organisation · Dr Alex Allen · UK · USA · North America

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem