The latest variant of Covid-19 about Covid-19 is developing rapidly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention In U.S. data, NB.1.8.1 has begun to replace other circulating strains of the coronavirus.
According to the latest ready-made CDC, covering the last two weeks ending June 7, NB.1.8.1 could result in 37% of all Covid-19 cases in the U.S., lagging only behind the current major variant LP.8.1 (38%). That’s an estimate, but CDC figures show that NB.1.8.1 cases have risen sharply since officials first discovered it in the country last month. Despite uncertainty, NB.1.8.1 may drive a new peak in Covid-19 this summer.
The World Health Organization first acknowledged NB.1.8.1 as a surveillance-worthy variant in mid-May, although initially discovered in late January. It has since become a growing threat. As of early June, about one-quarter of all global cases were considered NB.1.8.1, according to WHO data. In some parts of the world, Covid-19 activity is also increasing overall, with NB.1.8.1 related to recent cases and hospitalizations in parts of Asia, including China.
But, so far, things don’t seem to have changed dramatically in the United States. The COVID-19 test positive rate as of the weekend was 3%, only one ticking higher than last week. Hospitalizations and deaths related to Covid-19 have also remained stable and low. NB.1.8.1 does not seem to cause more severe disease on average than other circulating variants. Today’s variants still belong to the Omicron lineage of the virus, meaning they have no substantial changes at the genetic level and the updated vaccine promoter is expected to be effective against NB.1.8.1.
Meanwhile, NB.1.8.1 may be so different from other strains that it can be the main variant of the move forward. Some early evidence suggests that NB.1.8.1 has mutations that may increase its transmissibility. Experts warn that the past winter has also been unusually quiet for Covid-19, with low circulation in the U.S. and elsewhere, but that could set the stage for a bigger peak this summer.
“We will not expect greater public health risks for the NB.1.8.1 variant than other Omicron-descendant variants, nor do we expect significant impact on the effectiveness of vaccines against serious diseases,” Edoardo Colzani, head of the respiratory virus division in Europe for disease prevention and control, said in a statement released over the weekend. “However, after a winter with a lower SARS-COV-2 cycle, population immunity against SARS-COV-2 may be partially reduced, especially among older people and others at a higher risk of severe disease, where vulnerability increases as viral activity increases.”
Thanks to vaccination and population immunity, the danger of Covid-19 has been greatly reduced over time. But this summer is certainly a reminder of the pain that can be caused.
