A new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, is spreading globally, including in the US, with under 20 reported cases as of late May. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that this strain is now the second most prominent in the country, at 37% of total cases. However, its presence in Wisconsin remains unclear.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, no confirmed cases have been reported in the state. The laboratory has suspended its strain surveillance program due to federal funding cuts but continues to participate in the CDC’s National SARS-CoV-2 Strain Surveillance.
The variant was first detected in China in January and has since spread to at least 22 other countries. It has been identified in multiple US states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
While the CDC has not released detailed information on Wisconsin cases, it’s essential to note that the state is still participating in national surveillance efforts. Residents can expect guidance from health officials regarding testing and vaccination recommendations based on their individual circumstances.
Source: https://eu.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2025/06/17/have-any-cases-of-the-new-covid-strain-been-reported-in-wisconsin/84113678007