A new variant of COVID-19, which belongs to the XFG genetic line and is called Stratus, was recorded in Poltava Oblast. About this reported Poltava Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Poltava, experts discovered the causative agents of COVID-19 during the study of wastewater at local treatment plants. Laboratory analysis showed that the virus belongs to the genetic lines JN.1.4, KP.1.1.1 and BA.2.86.1, which are varieties that belong to the so-called FLiRT group, which has recently caused concern among epidemiologists.
As doctors note, the general symptoms of the infection remain similar to the previous options, but the incubation period has become shorter. The disease usually begins with a runny nose, body aches, muscle and head pain, weakness, and a sore throat. On the 2nd-3rd day, the symptoms intensify, and on the 4th-5th day they reach their peak. If the course of the disease is mild, the patient will almost completely recover by 6-7 days. In case of complications, bacterial infection or exacerbation of chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract is possible.
The Stratus variant shows a high rate of spread. The World Health Organization has already included it in the list of options under monitoring, because its share in the world increased from 7.4% to 22.7% in a month.
According to experts, available vaccines remain effective against the severe consequences of infection with this variant. At the same time, Stratus (XFG and XFG.3) is actively spreading in Great Britain, where it has already become the leader in 30% of cases of COVID‑19.
