Play all audios:
THE NEW STRAIN HAS BEEN DETECTED IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES, INCLUDING AUSTRALIA, THE US AND POSSIBLY THE UK, AND IS ALREADY THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN HONG KONG AND CHINA 08:16, 29 May 2025Updated
09:09, 29 May 2025 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning over a surge in Covid cases, with the new variant now accounting for more than 10 per cent of all infections. The
WHO has categorised the new strain NB. 1.8. 1 as a 'variant under monitoring' due to concerns about the sharp increase in cases. The new strain is being found in large numbers in
the Eastern Mediterranean, an area including the popular holiday destination of Egypt. It is also being detected in South East Asia - including in Thailand and the Maldives. By the end of
April 2025, NB. 1.8. 1 made up approximately 10.7% of all submitted sequences – a significant rise from just 2.5% four weeks prior. It is already the dominant strain in Hong Kong and China.
READ MORE: UK WORKERS COULD GET £6K BOOST TO PENSION POTS UNDER NEW PLANS Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease at Griffith University,
stated that due to multiple mutations, the new strain 'may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains', reports the Mirror. The strain has been identified in several
countries, including Australia, the US and potentially the UK. "But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants.
Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants. "Common symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal
congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases." A report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) states: "SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, and between January
and May 2025, there were shifts in global SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics. At the beginning of the year, the most prevalent variant tracked by WHO at the global level was XEC, followed by
KP.3.1.1. In February, circulation of XEC began to decline while that of LP.8.1 increased, with the latter becoming the most detected variant in mid-March. Since mid-April, the circulation
of LP.8.1 has been slightly declining as NB.1.8.1 is increasingly being detected." The WHO noted recent increases have also been observed in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The report reads: " WHO recommends that countries remain vigilant, adapt to evolving epidemiological trends, and leverage COVID-19 management strategies to strengthen systems for all
respiratory disease threats. Member States should continue offering COVID-19 vaccines in line with WHO recommendations. Article continues below "Based on the current risk assessment of
this event, WHO advises against imposing travel or trade restrictions."