BANGKOK – The Department of Medical Sciences confirmed on Tuesday that a new COVID-19 variant, identified as XFG and also known as Stratus, has been detected in Thailand. The country has recorded 33 cases of this strain since the beginning of the year, with the majority concentrated in Bangkok, the bangkok Post reported.

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Dr. Yongyot Thammavudhi, the department’s director-general, stated that the XFG strain, which has become the dominant COVID-19 variant globally, was first identified in Thailand in April. As of September 24, a total of 33 cases have been officially recorded, 23 of which were found in the capital. Despite its increasing prevalence, health authorities emphasized that there is no current evidence suggesting the new strain causes more severe symptoms than earlier variants.

Thailand has recorded 33 cases of the new Covid-19 strain XFG so far this year, most of them in Bangkok, according to the Department of Medical Sciences.

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“Most patients infected with the XFG strain exhibited mild symptoms, including fever, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, and headaches. None of the cases required hospitalization,” Dr. Yongyot explained. He further noted that among 608 COVID-19 cases reviewed between April 1 and September 24, the XFG variant accounted for only 5.4% of all strains detected during that period.

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While the new strain has not led to severe illness in reported cases, health officials continue to urge the public to maintain preventive measures. Recommendations include frequent hand washing, avoiding crowded spaces, and seeking prompt medical attention if symptoms such as fever, cough, or breathing difficulties occur. The Department of Disease Control earlier reported that, as of July 14, Thailand had recorded 589,352 COVID-19 cases and 239 fatalities since the start of the year.

-Thailand News (TN)