Alice Park
Public-health experts have warned for months that the COVID-19 virus isn’t gone—and, far from waning, SARS-CoV-2 has mutated yet again into a new variant. Called NB.1.8.1, it's causing a spike in infections in China. A few cases also recently appeared in the U.S. when people arriving at airports tested positive, according to a statement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The World Health Organization has also designated it as a “variant under monitoring.”
Here's what to know about the new variant.
Where did NB.1.8.1 come from?
Data from GISAID, a global database of genetic sequences of major disease-causing viruses, show the first known cases of NB.1.8.1 toward the end of April, appearing in travelers from China, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
NB.1.8.1 is now the dominant COVID-19 strain in China, where it is contributing to spikes in emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Where is the new COVID-19 variant in the U.S.?
The CDC operates a program at several airports in the U.S. where health officials randomly test travelers who agree to be swabbed. The new variant was picked up by this program beginning in late March. Cases have now been reported in a handful of states, including California, Hawaii, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington. So far, only a few cases have been detected in the U.S. so it doesn't yet register on the CDC's COVID-19 data tracking site of variants.
Will the latest COVID-19 vaccine protect me?
NB.1.8.1 is still part of the Omicron family, which means that current vaccines and immunity from recent infections should provide some protection against serious disease.
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