New Covid-19 strain arrives in Thailand

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New Covid-19 strain arrives in Thailand

XFG now the dominant strain worldwide but health officials say symptoms are mild

by Apinya Wipatayotin

September 30, 2025

Thailand has recorded 33 cases of the new Covid-19 strain XFG so far this year, most of them in Bangkok, according to the Department of Medical Sciences.

The department said on Tuesday that XFG, also known as Stratus, has become the dominant Covid-19 strain worldwide and case numbers are rising. However, there is no evidence to show that its symptoms are more severe than those caused by other strains.

Thailand recorded its first XFG case in April and as of Sept 24 there were 33 cases, 23 in Bangkok, said Dr Yongyot Thammavudhi, the department’s director-general.

“Most cases had mild symptoms such as fever, coughing, sore throat, runny noses and headaches. No one had to be admitted to a hospital,” he said.

From April 1 to Sept 24, the department reviewed 608 Covid-19 cases and XFG constituted only 5.4% of all strains found during the period, Dr Yongyot said.

“Although the XFG strain has not caused severe symptoms, people should always protect themselves by washing hands frequently and avoiding crowded places,” he said.

“If you have irregular symptoms including fever, coughing or breathing difficulties, you should quickly meet a doctor for diagnosis and proper treatment.”

The Department of Disease Control earlier reported that for the year to July 14, Thailand had 589,352 reported cases of Covid-19 and 239 fatalities.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... n-thailand

[Jun]

“Although the XFG strain has not caused severe symptoms, people should always protect themselves by washing hands frequently and avoiding crowded places,” he said.

I'm not going to spend any time avoiding crowded spaces.

People in good health or those who are recently vaccinated should carry on as normal, as if they catch Covid, they will barely know they have it. There's no point in compromising lifestyle for this.
Besides, when I go to Thailand next, I'm planning for intimacy rather than social distancing.


Incidentally, this Autumn, the INDEPENDENT UK JCVI has recommended boosters for those over 75. The cut off was 65 last year.

I'm not aware of the Thai authorities doing anything similar like recommending periodic boosters to those at risk.

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I'm not aware of .....

Neither am I. My doctors have recommended injections for other things, such as flu vaccine, but none have said anything to me about Covid boosters.

When my doctors make such recommendations I do what they say to do. I'm getting too old to play games or decide I know more about it than they do. If my doctor says to get a certain injection, I get it.

[Jun]

When my doctors make such recommendations I do what they say to do. I'm getting too old to play games or decide I know more about it than they do. If my doctor says to get a certain injection, I get it.

How does this work ?
Do you go in periodically and ask if you should get Covid jabs, or are you relying on him to remember ?
And adjusting for any incentives he might have to sell product & services.

All I know is if I went in and asked an NHS doctor if I should get a covid jab, I'd probably have to wait 3 weeks for an appointment, then get a bollocking for wasting their time, when the JCVI have already made recommendations.
So I would typically make comparisons of recommendations from the JCVI and another country, such as Germany. These independent committees will know hell of a lot more about it than the lazy _______ who the NHS employ as our local doctor.

Obviously for anyone of a certain age, sometimes with other factors to consider & perhaps a better doctor, perhaps it's a bit different to my case.

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How does this work ?

Very simple. When I go in for a routine scheduled appointment, the doctor examines me, looks at my records, and if he thinks I need anything, he tells me, and if I want whatever it is, they set it up right then and there.

And adjusting for any incentives he might have to sell product & services.

Do you think everything involves tea money?

[Jun]

Do you think everything involves tea money?

I'm certainly not suggesting tea money.
However, I'm not aware of any restrictions that stop hospitals openly offering bonuses to doctors for selling services.

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However, I'm not aware of any restrictions that stop hospitals openly offering bonuses to doctors for selling services.

I have not experienced or seen anything to suggest any hospitals and doctors in Thailand are doing that or offering incentives for doing that. Have you?

I have no reason to think any doctors I have seen in Thailand have ever recommended any medications or procedures that were unnecessary or inappropriate. However, I can't say the same for some of the doctors I had seen in the USA.

I have full faith and trust in every doctor I have ever seen in Thailand, but again, I can't say the same for some of the doctors I've had in the USA - especially the ones associated with HMOs.

[Jun]

I have not experienced or seen anything to suggest any hospitals and doctors in Thailand are doing that or offering incentives for doing that. Have you?

I have no reason to think any doctors I have seen in Thailand have ever recommended any medications or procedures that were unnecessary or inappropriate. However, I can't say the same for some of the doctors I had seen in the USA.

I have not read about it in Thailand, but I have read of it somewhere else. Which may well have been the USA.

In the past, I have seen evidence of UK NHS dentists doing unnecessary work, just because they got paid for it.
These days, they seem to have changed the payment structure so that even if you can find an NHS dentist, they try not to look too closely, just in case they find some work needing doing.

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Today I was in the hospital for a scheduled follow-up. The doctor said he does not think I need to worry about this latest Covid strain, but he did point out that it has been a year since my last flu vaccine. He recommended the latest flu vaccine. And I got it.

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Today I was in the hospital for a scheduled follow-up. The doctor said he does not think I need to worry about this latest Covid strain, but he did point out that it has been a year since my last flu vaccine. He recommended the latest flu vaccine. And I got it.

I’m glad you have such great faith in doctors, I don’t. I hope they get replaced with AI soon. At least you’re somewhat skeptical of USA doctors.
My primary care doctor who has since retired, never recommended the shingles vaccine to me. Even though I was in the age group of it being recommended. I got it on my own and it really works wonders.
When I told her I had shingles pain without the rash she was highly skeptical. Well yes, you can get the attack without the ugly rash.
I should have used my common sense before I had an endoscopy done last week. And not eaten anything the night before the procedure. I asked her about this and she said to just follow the instructions, nothing eaten or drunken after midnight. Well I ate about 8 the night before and it compromised the results, couldn’t see what they were looking at so told me to get it done in Thailand. Now I don’t know if my ulcer has healed yet.
I never hesitate to question any of my doctors because they are probably overwhelmed with patients and can make mistakes. My family is fairly knowledgeable about health and we discuss what doctors recommend and we look at all options, not just whatever the doctor says.