A new Covid variant called XFG, circulating online as 'American Covid' or 'Stratus Covid', is being tracked across the United Kingdom. Hospitalisations linked to the variant have risen more than 400% in a single month, according to coverage by The Independent and the Daily Mirror.

Health media in the UK and India are raising concerns as one that can persist for weeks at a time, with two symptoms drawing particular attention online. Officials have yet to issue formal advice, but the sharp increase in hospitalisations has prompted alerts across health and news platforms.