Is the ‘Frankenstein Variant’ To Blame For Your Never

As with every flu season, new strains of the virus that causes COVID-19 are spreading across Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world. The latest one to draw attention is the Stratus variant, also known as the “Frankenstein variant.”Scientifically labeled XFG, this variant has become increasingly dominant in Germany and several European countries since mid-2025. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have listed XFG as a variant under monitoring (VUM), meaning it is being closely tracked, though it is not yet considered a major threat. What Is the ‘Frankenstein’ Variant?The XFG variant is a recombinant strain, a mix of two earlier sub-lineages, LF.7 and LP.8.1.2. Much like Frankenstein’s creature, which was