A new subtype of the omicron subtype, unofficially referred to as “stratus,” has been registered in Armenia.
The ministry noted that the coronavirus situation in the country is stable. However, the XBB.1.5 (“Kraken”) subtype of the omicron subtype, which has been observed since 2023, continues to circulate.
Regarding acute respiratory infections, no activity has been recorded, but pathogens of rhinovirus, parainfluenza, and adenovirus have been identified.
As a reminder, the new SARS-CoV-2 XFG subtype, unofficially referred to as “stratus,” was first identified in Canada on January 27, 2025. In late June 2025, the World Health Organization classified Stratus XFG as a new, “controlled” strain of coronavirus, with specialists monitoring its spread and severity. Stratus is highly contagious and spreading rapidly worldwide, but compared to previous variants, it does not yet cause more severe disease, so the risk to public health is considered low.