A new subvariant of the coronavirus, informally called Stratus, has been detected in Armenia, according to the Ministry of Health. The country’s COVID‑19 situation is currently assessed as stable, Sputnik Armenia reports.
At the same time, the XBB.1.5 (Kraken) variant of Omicron, which has been circulating since 2023, continues to be present in the republic. Regarding other acute respiratory infections, no significant increase has been observed; however, pathogens such as rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus have been detected.
Stratus is characterized by higher transmissibility and rapid spread globally, but so far, it has not led to more severe disease compared to prior variants. Therefore, at present, its impact on public health is considered to be low risk.
The XFG Stratus variant was first identified in Canada on January 27, 2025. In late June 2025, the WHO placed Stratus XFG on its list of variants under monitoring, enabling expert review of its spread and potential complications.
