A new COVID-19 strain, nicknamed “Nimbus” (NB.1.8.1), has reached the US and is now present in at least 22 countries worldwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nimbus made up 37% of COVID-19 cases nationwide as of early June.
The variant was first detected in China in January but didn’t account for any cases in the US until May. However, by early June, it became one of the most prominent variants in circulation. Data from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data database shows that Nimbus is present in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Symptoms of the new strain include a severe sore throat, sometimes described as “razor-blade throat fatigue,” along with mild cough, fever, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and other similar complaints. Despite this, health experts say updated COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against severe illness.
The CDC advises that vaccination rates should be maintained, and people can get tested through at-home tests or by seeing their doctors. The World Health Organization has classified the additional public health risk posed by Nimbus as “low” globally, but warns that currently approved vaccines are expected to remain effective against symptomatic and severe disease.
Source: https://eu.providencejournal.com/story/news/2025/07/01/new-covid-strain-nimbus-reaches-ri-symptoms-testing-vaccine-info/84417790007