File photo for reference only

 

Thailand has identified 33 cases of the new Covid-19 strain, XFG, most prevalent in Bangkok, as reported by the Department of Medical Sciences. On Tuesday, the department confirmed that XFG, also referred to as Stratus, is now the dominant strain globally. Despite this spread, experts indicate that the symptoms remain mild compared to previous strains.

 

Thailand first encountered the XFG strain in April. By September 24, 33 cases had been documented, with 23 located in Bangkok, according to Dr Yongyot Thammavudhi, the department’s director-general. He noted, "Most cases experienced mild symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and headaches, with no hospital admissions required."

 

From April 1 to September 24, the department analysed 608 Covid-19 cases, with XFG making up 5.4% of infections. Dr. Yongyot emphasised the importance of preventive measures, such as regular handwashing and avoiding crowded places, to continue curbing the virus’s spread. He advised seeking medical consultation for any unusual symptoms like fever or breathing issues.

 

Earlier, the Department of Disease Control noted that up until July 14, Thailand reported 589,352 Covid-19 cases and 239 related deaths. Looking ahead, health authorities are staying vigilant about the strain's development, while public health measures remain a priority to protect the population.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thailand has recorded 33 cases of the new XFG Covid-19 strain, mainly in Bangkok.
• XFG is now the dominant strain globally but presents with mild symptoms.
• Public health advice includes regular handwashing and avoiding crowded areas.

Related Stories:

Thailand Sees a Surge in COVID-19 Cases: Concerns for Public Health 

Thailand's Health System Holding Strong Amid Covid-19 Surge, Says Minister

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from [source] 2025-10-01

 

 

People are still interested in this....really?

Well that explains it, I'm XFG'd ... 

 

Got a semi stuffy & running nose and can't shake it.  OK, it's only been 3 days, but 2 days longer than any other infection I've gotten over the years.

Oh no. Fuel for the fire. 

54 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Got a semi stuffy & running nose and can't shake it.  OK, it's only been 3 days, but 2 days longer than any other infection I've gotten over the years.

 

Avoid Bangkok .

is it too late to get vax'd     

 

Now we have the reason why tourists don't come anymore... It is the new Covid strain....

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Well that explains it, I'm XFG'd ... 

 

Got a semi stuffy & running nose and can't shake it.  OK, it's only been 3 days, but 2 days longer than any other infection I've gotten over the years.

You've had a semi for three days.... impressive!!

13 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Now we have the reason why tourists don't come anymore... It is the new Covid strain....

 

As they don't have iit  in China already?

4 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

You've had a semi for three days.... impressive!!

I'm 83, I wish I could even get a semi.

Who cares? Just another weekend strain of a flu. I'm much more concerned about catching it flu than I am covid these days, and I would never consider getting another vaccine shot. 

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

People are still interested in this....really?

 

Yes, because it  has the potential to disrupt tourist season. In case you missed it, other variants were deadly. All infectious diseases are important.

WEAR YOUR MASK

 

 

XFG

SMH

BTW

DGAF

Thankfully, everybody is up to date with their boosters as it could have been soooooo much worse.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Dr. Yongyot emphasised the importance of preventive measures, such as regular handwashing and avoiding crowded places, to continue curbing the virus’s spread.

We should have another lockdown.   Just in case.  Can never be too cautious.

 

#stayhome #staysafe

15 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Yes, because it  has the potential to disrupt tourist season. In case you missed it, other variants were deadly. All infectious diseases are important.

Oh come on - spend 30 seconds on a Google search for XFG.

 

Been around 9 months already, "the WHO assesses the public health risk posed by XFG to be “low”".

 

More relaxed now ?

21 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Yes, because it  has the potential to disrupt tourist season. In case you missed it, other variants were deadly. All infectious diseases are important.

You're funny.

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Well that explains it, I'm XFG'd ... 

 

Got a semi stuffy & running nose and can't shake it.  OK, it's only been 3 days, but 2 days longer than any other infection I've gotten over the years.

I have it too. I thought it was hay fever, but could it be covid?

🤣

39 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

I have it too. I thought it was hay fever, but could it be covid?

🤣

Wife is searching now for a good hospice care provider with a ventilator.

 

Damn, I should have gotten vax'd ... 

 

I'm in all the high risk groups ...

anti vaxxer

anti mask

70+ yrs old

right leaning Lib

only believe in 2 genders

anti illegal alien 

anti Dem/Soros

anti fossil fuel

BEV'er & solar fanboy

Rock On CN & Musk

 

I'm F'd ... making final preparations now  😎

5 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

All infectious diseases are important

The common cold is a viral infectious disease. This new strain is another in the Omicron lineage so for most symptoms will be very similar to the common cold. Importance IMO isn't high.

 

 

 

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

The common cold is a viral infectious disease. This new strain is another in the Omicron lineage so for most symptoms will be very similar to the common cold. Importance IMO isn't high.

 

An infectious disease has the potential to mutate and to become a deadlier or more potent  strain. Your attitude is what gave us  antibiotic and anti viral resistant treatments. Have a sexually transmitted disease? No worries. just take a pill and it is cured.  That attitude gave us super Gonorrhoea. I repeat again, all infectious are important to public health and for economic national security. A simple infectious respiratory illness can easily infect a population and cut down workers paralyzing an economy. We have seen it with some strains of the common cold that allowed opportunistic respiratory infections to take hold. A simple stomach bug onboard a cruise ship  can quickly become an epidemic.  Every year, schools must deal with outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) . It is disruptive and terrifies infected children. Several different viruses can cause the disease and understanding the  implicated virus has an impact on  management.

37 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

An infectious disease has the potential to mutate and to become a deadlier or more potent  strain.

As I pointed out this new strain is a continuation of the Omicron lineage which for the majority of people is non-severe as is the common cold for the majority of people. Get a grip. Not sure but I reckon this is around the third or fourth "new strain" so far this year alone. It's NOT a big deal.

On 10/1/2025 at 8:31 AM, PJ71 said:

People are still interested in this....really?

Solution, don't breath 

I spoke to two doctors yesterday. Both told me Thai govt does not advise updated Covid vaccinations. What BS! My son in the US has had eight--he works in pharma. The real question is whether these updated vax are even imported into Thailand.

3 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

My son in the US has had eight--he works in pharma.

 

Did he get a free doughnut ?  

16 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

An infectious disease has the potential to mutate and to become a deadlier or more potent  strain

 

As pointed out by many 'eggspurts'  right at the beginning of the Covid debacle,

the virus was (as in this case) most likely to mutate towards less lethality..of course those 'eggspurts' were called conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxer's 

for pointing out the inconvenient truth !!

17 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

An infectious disease has the potential to mutate and to become a deadlier or more potent  strain

 

Even a high school student knows that for a virus to be successful it must be more virulent and less deadly. That's why Ebola doesn't spread very far, because it kills the host too quickly.  The people who died with covid were dead meat anyways. 4 or more comorbidities and one foot in the grave, unlike the poor kids who got myocarditis from the 'cure'.  

 

These proclamations about viruses should state the testing method used and the cycle threshold number if they're using that test that wasn't designed to diagnose anything. 

On 10/1/2025 at 8:17 AM, webfact said:

Most cases experienced mild symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and headaches, with no hospital admissions required."

Sounds fine.

7 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

 

Even a high school student knows that for a virus to be successful it must be more virulent and less deadly. That's why Ebola doesn't spread very far, because it kills the host too quickly.  The people who died with covid were dead meat anyways. 4 or more comorbidities and one foot in the grave, unlike the poor kids who got myocarditis from the 'cure'.  

 

These proclamations about viruses should state the testing method used and the cycle threshold number if they're using that test that wasn't designed to diagnose anything. 

Absolute stupidity. Ebola does indeed spread and is an endemic disease. Your dismissal of one of the planet's most deadly and infectious of diseases speaks to your ignorance of basic infectious disease principles.  The number of people who developed suspected myocarditis from a vaccine was negligible. In all age groups studied, the overall risks of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection‐related hospitalization and death are hugely greater than the risks from post‐vaccine myocarditis.

 

Your claim is based on the intentional misrepresentation and misinterpretation of  the clinical data. There is an established and already known risk of myocarditis in the general population. You ignore the reality that people do present with myocarditis without any vaccination relationship.  

You also ignore the fact that SARS Cov-2 is an inflammatory disease and increases the risk of myocarditis by 16‐fold from 9 cases per 100 000 to 150 cases per 100 000. People who were reporting myocarditis were either infected with the virus before vaccination or became infected after vaccination.  You ignore this.

 

9 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Absolute stupidity. Ebola does indeed spread and is an endemic disease. Your dismissal of one of the planet's most deadly and infectious of diseases speaks to your ignorance of basic infectious disease principles.  The number of people who developed suspected myocarditis from a vaccine was negligible. In all age groups studied, the overall risks of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection‐related hospitalization and death are hugely greater than the risks from post‐vaccine myocarditis.

 

Your claim is based on the intentional misrepresentation and misinterpretation of  the clinical data. There is an established and already known risk of myocarditis in the general population. You ignore the reality that people do present with myocarditis without any vaccination relationship.  

You also ignore the fact that SARS Cov-2 is an inflammatory disease and increases the risk of myocarditis by 16‐fold from 9 cases per 100 000 to 150 cases per 100 000. People who were reporting myocarditis were either infected with the virus before vaccination or became infected after vaccination.  You ignore this.

 

 

You could have shown your foolishness with fewer words. Do you even know what endemic means?  Sheesh.  I meet few idiots in real life, now I know why: they're in this thread.