A new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1 — a descendant of the Omicron strain — is spreading in parts of the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). While still rare in the United States, the variant has been classified as “under monitoring” due to its rising presence globally.
The first known sample of NB.1.8.1 was collected in January, and WHO officially began tracking it on May 23. As of May 18, 518 cases had been reported across 22 countries. Although it made up only 10.7% of global cases at the end of April, that’s a sharp increase from 2.5% just four weeks earlier.
WHO says symptoms are similar to those of other variants, and the overall public health risk remains low. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet listed the variant on its tracker, due to low case numbers.
Dr. Todd Ellerin, chief of infectious diseases at South Shore Health, noted that while it’s too early to predict a summer surge, COVID-19 has previously defied seasonal patterns.
Health experts say the variant does not appear to cause more severe illness. “With each new variant, severity hasn’t changed significantly,” said Dr. John Brownstein of Boston Children’s Hospital. However, increased transmissibility could still lead to more hospitalizations and deaths, simply by infecting more people.
The variant carries mutations that may help it spread faster and potentially resist some treatments, according to WHO. Still, approved vaccines are expected to remain effective.
Brownstein emphasized that guidance remains unchanged: stay up to date with vaccines and boosters, and consider added precautions like masking for high-risk individuals.
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