Emerging COVID Variants Drive Infection Surge Across Several U.S. States

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New COVID variants, including XFB (nicknamed Stratus) and NB.1.8.1 (called Nimbus), are fueling a noticeable increase in COVID-19 cases across multiple regions in the United States. Wastewater testing, which helps track the level of virus spread in communities, has detected exceptionally high COVID concentrations in states such as Nevada, Utah, Delaware, and Connecticut—signaling widespread transmission.

The XFG variant, a close relative of these strains, has quickly become the dominant form of the virus in the U.S., now responsible for about 78% of infections, a sharp rise from just 14% two months ago. This rapid growth demonstrates how these variants are outpacing earlier strains.

Areas with lower vaccination coverage or little previous exposure to COVID-19 remain particularly at risk as these new variants spread. According to the CDC, states experiencing rising case numbers include New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Health experts emphasize the importance of vaccination and ongoing vigilance to help mitigate the impact of these more contagious variants as they continue to spread across the country.