KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has detected a new Covid-19 variant, XFG, among the 43,087 cases reported in Epidemiological Week (EW) 35/2025.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkifly Ahmad announced on the X platform that 8.2 per cent of the total cases reported in EW35 were the XFG variant.
He stated that through genomic surveillance, the NB 1.8.1 variant remained dominant, accounting for 39.4 per cent, followed by JN.1 (18.1 per cent) and XEC (13.3 per cent), while other variants made up 21 per cent.
“Cumulatively, as of EW35/2025, a total of 43,087 cases have been reported, compared to 85,297 cases for the same period in 2024 (a decrease of 49.5 per cent),” he said.
Dzulkifly added that weekly cases in EW35 showed a 12.8 per cent decrease, with 594 cases compared to 681 in EW34.
He added that one new death was recorded in EW35, involving a bedridden 91-year-old senior citizen.
“The cumulative COVID-19 deaths to date are 3 (reported in EW 24/2025, EW 30/2025, and EW 35/2025),” he said.
He also advised the public to continue practising basic preventive measures, especially frequent hand washing, wearing face masks if symptomatic or in crowded places, and getting vaccinated if they are at risk. — Bernama
