Kuala lumpur: 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 Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, announced on the X platform that 8.2% of the total cases reported in EW35 were the XFG variant.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Dzulkefly detailed that through genomic surveillance, the NB 1.8.1 variant remained dominant, accounting for 39.4%, followed by JN.1 at 18.1% and XEC at 13.3%, while other variants made up the remaining 21%. The report highlighted a cumulative total of 43,087 cases as of EW35/2025, marking a 49.5% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, which recorded 85,297 cases.

Dr Dzulkefly further noted a 12.8% decrease in weekly cases during EW35, with 594 cases compared to 681 in EW34. Additionally, one new death was recorded in EW35, involving a bedridden 91-year-old senior citizen, bringing the cumulative COVID-19 deaths to three for the year, reported in EW 24/2025, EW 30/2025, and EW 35/2025.

He urged the public to continue practicing basic preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing, wearing face masks if symptomatic or in crowded places, and getting vaccinated if they are at risk.