New COVID Variant NB.1.8.1, Linked to China, Spreads Quickly in U.S.
Although COVID-19 may no longer dominate daily headlines, the virus hasn’t gone away. In fact, it’s still evolving. A new variant named NB.1.8.1 is the latest example, and it’s now making headlines for its rapid spread in China and its appearance in the United States.
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Public health officials in China have seen a rise in emergency room visits and hospitalizations linked to NB.1.8.1, which has quickly become the dominant strain there. International health experts, including the World Health Organization, have classified the variant as one to monitor closely.
NB.1.8.1 isn’t limited to China. According to global virus tracking data from GISAID, the variant has shown up in travelers from a number of countries, including France, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Spain, the Netherlands, and Thailand. It was first identified in late April.
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In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has detected a small number of NB.1.8.1 cases through its airport surveillance program. At airports across the country, the CDC randomly tests travelers who consent to nasal swabs. Since late March, the variant has appeared in several states: California, Hawaii, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.
Though it hasn’t yet shown up in large enough numbers to appear on the CDC’s main COVID-19 variant tracker, the presence of NB.1.8.1 is being taken seriously. Fortunately, because the variant is a member of the Omicron family, it’s expected that existing immunity—either through vaccines or previous infections—should offer some protection, especially against severe illness.
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Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are keeping a close eye on NB.1.8.1 and related variants. At a recent meeting in late May, the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee reviewed updates from Pfizer and Moderna, who shared early data on new experimental vaccines aimed at a related strain called LP.8.1. This strain currently accounts for more than 70% of U.S. COVID-19 cases and is closely linked to NB.1.8.1 and JN.1—the strain targeted by the most recent vaccine.
Although the experimental shots showed slightly better protection, the FDA committee ultimately voted to stick with a JN.1-based formula for the next vaccine round, at least for now.
As always, public health experts urge people to stay informed, especially as respiratory virus season approaches again in the fall. Vaccines, good hygiene, and staying home when sick remain important tools in keeping newer variants like NB.1.8.1 under control.
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New COVID Variant NB.1.8.1, Linked to China, Spreads Quickly in U.S. was originally published on rickeysmileymorningshow.com
