A Covid-19 variant nicknamed “American Covid” is driving a sharp rise in cases and hospital admissions across the UK, though health officials maintain it does not appear to cause more severe illness than earlier strains.
The strain, officially designated XFG and also called Stratus, has been circulating internationally for roughly a year. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures show Covid-positive test rates climbed to around seven per cent in September, while hospital admission rates jumped by approximately 50 per cent over the same period. Separate data reported on October 8 put the increase in recorded cases at 230 per cent over four weeks, from 1,374 to 4,589, with XFG accounting for more than half of positive hospital tests.
UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Alex Allen has pushed back against framing XFG as a novel threat. Speaking about the variants currently circulating, Allen said: “The strains currently going around, including those known as XFG, are closely related to strains that have been with us for over a year, so this isn’t something new.”
Symptoms linked to the Stratus variant overlap heavily with common cold signs, making it difficult to identify without testing. Reported effects include a blocked or runny nose, headache, fever, chills, persistent cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, body aches and sore throat. Some people have also experienced loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, changes to taste or smell, and hoarse voice.
One symptom has drawn particular attention online. Some patients have described an especially painful sore throat, sometimes referred to as “razor-blade throat,” that feels like swallowing razor blades. However, health officials caution that these symptoms alone cannot confirm XFG infection, as respiratory illnesses share similar warning signs.
The UKHSA attributes the surge partly to seasonal factors. Colder weather is pushing people indoors, and immunity from prior infection or vaccination has waned in some individuals. Despite rising hospital admissions, the agency says there is no current evidence that circulating variants are making people more seriously ill or spreading faster than before.
Monitoring continues through surveillance data, hospital records and genomic sequencing. Officials are encouraging eligible people to take up seasonal Covid-19 vaccination, with the UK autumn programme targeting those aged 75 and over, people with weakened immune systems and older care-home residents.
For those already symptomatic, guidance focuses on limiting spread. People with respiratory symptoms who have a high temperature or feel too unwell for normal activities are advised to stay home if possible and avoid contact with vulnerable individuals. Those who cannot remain home should consider wearing a well-fitting face covering, steering clear of crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, and practising good hand hygiene.
The “American Covid” moniker appears to reflect the variant’s association with rising US case numbers, though XFG has been present globally for months. The nickname has gained traction as media coverage of the autumn surge has intensified.