What is the latest information on COVID cases in 2025?
Global Situation and Epidemiological Indicators
The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that viral activity for the SARS-CoV-2 virus has begun to significantly increase in several regions around the world, with test positivity rates reaching approximately 11% in 73 countries, a level not seen since July 2024.
This increase is primarily attributed to countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, South Asia, and the Western Pacific, according to reports from WHO and CIDRAP.
In contrast, Africa, Europe, and the Americas continue to report relatively low levels of activity, with positivity rates ranging from only 2-3% in several countries.
During the 28-day period between August 18 and September 14, 2025, more than 132,801 new confirmed cases were recorded in 65 countries, a significant increase compared to the previous period, along with 1,671 new deaths globally.
Data shows that approximately 88% of deaths were among those over 65, reflecting the continued vulnerability of older age groups to the virus.
Viral Variants and Genetic Surveillance
The World Health Organization and several international health bodies are closely monitoring new viral variants that began to emerge in 2025.
The most prominent of these is the NB.1.8.1 variant, known as "Nimbus," which has been officially listed among the variants under surveillance.
Another variant, known as XFG, has also been detected. It is believed to be a variant derived from the Omicron strain and is currently being monitored by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in several European countries.
To date, there is no strong evidence that these variants cause more severe symptoms than previous strains. However, concerns are focused on the potential for increased transmission and the virus's ability to evade immunity acquired through vaccination or previous infections.
Vaccinations and Herd Immunity
Countries continue their efforts to update their vaccination strategies with updated vaccines for the 2025-2026 season, aimed at combating new variants.
In the United States, for example, data from the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that only 21% of adults received the updated vaccine during the 2024-2025 season, a significantly lower percentage than previous seasons, raising concerns about the adequacy of herd immunity.
Additional and Regulatory Points
In a historic step, the WHO Member States adopted the Global Convention on the Prevention of Epidemics in May 2025, aiming to enhance international cooperation and rapid response to emerging epidemics.
However, a significant challenge remains: low levels of testing and reporting in a number of countries, which could obscure the true picture of the virus's global spread, according to reports from CIDRAP and Our World in Data.
Future Outlook
Although COVID-19 no longer threatens health systems as it did at the height of the pandemic, experts agree on the need to remain constantly vigilant.
New variants, declining immunity, and varying vaccination rates are all factors that could contribute to new local or seasonal waves.
Therefore, prevention, genetic surveillance, and global cooperation remain the fundamental pillars for maintaining global health stability in the post-pandemic phase.
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