(NewsNation) — As the weather begins to change and respiratory illnesses become more common, a highly transmissible strain of COVID-19 is on the rise across the United States.

The XFG COVID-19 variant, also known as "Stratus," was initially detected in Southeast Asia in January. In March, the first cases of the variant were identified in the U.S.; however, it took several months for Stratus to surpass the "Nimbus" variant and become the dominant strain in COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

Over the summer, Stratus infections surged and continue to rise heading into the fall. In a recent four-week period that ended on Sept. 27, Stratus accounted for an estimated 85% of U.S. COVID cases, according to the CDC's Nowcast estimates.

What are the symptoms of Stratus?

Many symptoms of the Stratus vari

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