New COVID Variant With Distinctive Symptom Driving Up Cases In WI

WISCONSIN — A new COVID-19 variant known as "Stratus" is spreading in the U.S. this summer, and it may come with a surprising new symptom: hoarseness.

Officially labeled XFG, Stratus has quickly become the third-most dominant strain nationwide and is now driving up case estimates in Wisconsin.

Stratus is similar in symptoms and seriousness to other Omicron variants, but experts say hoarseness may be a unique feature of this version.

New national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Stratus accounted for 14 percent of COVID-19 cases in late June. It was first detected in Southeast Asia in January but didn’t appear in U.S. surveillance reports until May.

The World Health Organization classified XFG as a “variant under monitoring” in June.

Getting a full picture of COVID-19 activity can be difficult given shifting priorities in federal and state health policy. But several key measures help put together a picture of what’s happening in Wisconsin.

CDC: COVID-19 Cases Likely Growing Again In Wisconsin

As of July 29, the CDC estimates a 96.65 percent probability that COVID-19 is growing in Wisconsin. The state’s epidemic trend is officially classified as growing, with a reproductive rate (Rt) of 1.13 — meaning each infection is leading to more than one new case.

Despite the upward trend, emergency department visits for COVID-19 remain very low, accounting for just 0.29 percent of all ED visits statewide.

National Picture

Projections show infections are growing or likely to grow in 40 states and are unchanged in nine others. The highest rates of transmission are in the South, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Midwest.

The CDC also said COVID viral activity in wastewater remains “low” nationally, though at least 10 states had “high” or “very high” levels as of July 12.

In Wisconsin, wastewater viral activity is currently "very low," with 40 sites reporting.

Although hoarseness appears to be unique to Stratus, other common symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

Health experts say the Stratus variant may be better than others at evading immunity. While vaccine guidance is evolving, the CDC still says COVID-19 vaccination helps protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.