Recent coverage uses “American COVID” to refer to XFG, a SARS-CoV-2 lineage also called Stratus. “American COVID” is a media nickname, not an official WHO variant name—and it does not show that XFG originated in the United States.
What variant does “American COVID” refer to?
The nickname refers to XFG, which some media coverage also calls Stratus. The lineage identifier is XFG; “Stratus” and “American COVID” are informal names used in coverage, not WHO designations. The Independent used the nickname for XFG in an article published on 2 October 2026.
What is XFG?
The World Health Organization describes XFG as a recombinant lineage of LF.7 and LP.8.1.2. WHO records its earliest sample as 27 January 2025 and its designation as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM) on 25 June 2025. WHO’s XFG risk evaluation explains the lineage and designation.
Does “American” mean XFG began in the United States?
No such origin is established by the cited coverage or WHO documents. Treat “American COVID” as a media nickname, not evidence of where the lineage first emerged. The sources also do not establish who coined the phrase or whether all outlets use it in the same way.
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WHO’s variant tracking table listed XFG as a VUM as of 27 July 2026. Check that live page for any status updates after that snapshot.
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