A new variant of COVID-19, known as NB.1.8.1, is on the rise globally, but according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the overall risk to the public remains low. The variant has been increasing in proportion to other circulating variants, but routine clinical surveillance data have not shown any signs of increased severity associated with it.
Researchers compared NB.1.8.1 to LP.8.1.1 and found that it had a higher relative growth advantage than co-circulating variants. However, no evidence of increased COVID-19-related hospital admissions, deaths per hospitalizations, or all-cause mortality has been reported.
Symptoms of the variant appear similar to those of prior COVID-19 variants, including fever, headache, cough, and body aches. Some reports describe a “razor blade” sore throat associated with NB.1.8.1, but its severity remains unclear.
The WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition advises that the current vaccines remain effective against the variant, despite some reports of immune escape. However, the effectiveness of these vaccines against NB.1.8.1 is currently unclear and may be lower than expected.
Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/who-eyes-emerging-covid-19-variant-2025a1000gmp