New Covid-19 variant Nimbus raises concerns, but South Africa remains case-free
NICD says it's closely monitoring the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant, identified in several Asian countries.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says it's closely monitoring the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant, identified in several Asian countries.
"The latest variant, Nimbus or NB.1.8.1, has been designated a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring.
"In South Africa, we have also not detected this lineage yet, and using our sentinel syndromic surveillance system, there are very few outpatient or inpatient respiratory illnesses caused by SARS-COV-2," the NICD said.
According to the National Department of Health, the new variant is a descendant of the Omicron lineage.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Flu season started in March, confirms NICD
CAPE TOWN - The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that flu season started on 24 March with patients being admitted for pneumonia. The NICD reported that, historically, this year's flu season arrived earlier than past seasons. Health officials advised the public to wash their hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes and to avoid contact with people at risk of respiratory illnesses. Western Cape Health Department COO, Saadiq Kariem, said that transmission of the flu was currently low. "And so they do monitory of all the flu variants and what they found so far in fact since the 30th of December 2024 to the first of June 2025, of the samples tested, they found that there were 9.5% of cases were influenza but they also do monitoring of other respiratory pathogens and so they found that 16% of those cases were in fact RSV or respiratory syncytial virus and 3.5% of those cases were in fact from SARS CoV2." Kariem added that regular vaccinations provided a defence against the virus. "But this is why it's important to vaccinate every year, because the variants change all the time, much like we've obviously people understand how the SARSCoV2 virus has changed all the time." He detailed the types of influenza variants that had been detected this winter season. "So the flu virus changes all the time, every season, and most of the cases this far are from influenza A and the subtype is H3N2, but the NICD also picked up influenza A, H1N1 and a small amount of cases have been influenza B."


Eyewitness News
21 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Doctors reporting a range of flu infections this winter season
CAPE TOWN - The winter season in 2025 has brought with it more than just icy cold and rainy conditions. Doctors are reporting a range of flu infections, which include Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza A, better known as swine flu and Influenza B types. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NCID) said there has been an increase in these types of infections this winter season. The institute's Anne von Gottberg explained: 'Most predominantly, it's been H1N1, which is not unexpected, we've had one or two other types, and there's three types that we would be expecting - two Influenza A types and one influenza B type - and at the moment, its exactly as expected.' Gottberg said flu vaccines are assessed each year to make sure they are still a good preventative measure. 'Well, they are slightly different, which is why we need to give the influenza vaccine each year. So, the influenza virus drifts a little. It has small changes in its genome, in its genetic background, and that makes it slightly different each year and that's the reason for reviewing the vaccine and making sure that we have updated influenza virus components in the Influenza vaccine.'


The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
SA highlights strong surveillance as new COVID variant spreads across Asia
South Africa is closely monitoring the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, known as Nimbus or NB.1.8.1, associated with a rise in cases in certain regions of Asia. This is according to Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who addressed the 4th Health Working Group meeting of the Group of 20 (G20), which is underway in Johannesburg. Motsoaledi said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated this 'a variant under monitoring' due to its growing presence. India is the latest country to experience a surge in new COVID-19 cases due to the emergence of the new variant, NB.1.8.1. According to the Independent, infections have been confirmed in several Asian countries, including Thailand, Indonesia and China. In addition, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency reported the first 13 cases of this variant in England last week. 'I wish to reassure this esteemed gathering that South Africa has robust surveillance systems in place. 'Our National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) manages a comprehensive sentinel surveillance programme that systematically tests for key respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV. Currently, our data show very low SARS-CoV-2 activity,' Motsoaledi explained. South Africa is currently experiencing a seasonal rise in influenza, but the country is well-prepared to manage the situation, he said. 'Crucially, the new variant remains a descendant of the Omicron lineage. This means that current recommendations for updated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are still effective. Therefore, at this stage, no specific new public health actions are required from the public.' Motsoaledi said government continues to promote good hygiene practices, including handwashing, covering coughs, and staying home when feeling unwell. 'These simple measures are effective in reducing the spread of all respiratory illnesses. We will continue to monitor the situation closely through our established networks and will report any significant changes.' Meanwhile, he called on the attendees of the meeting to work together with 'renewed urgency and unwavering resolve'. 'Let us build a future where solidarity, equity, and cooperation are the cornerstones of our global health architecture.' The week-long Health Working Group meeting began on Tuesday and will conclude on Friday. It brings together health leaders, experts, and policymakers from the world's largest economies, invited nations, and international organisations. The plenary sessions will build on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and address ongoing barriers to accessing countermeasures, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. There will be a focus on prioritising the expansion of local and regional manufacturing capacity, especially in regions like Africa. Delegates will also explore opportunities for technology transfer, sustainable financing, and regulatory alignment to ensure timely and equitable access to life-saving tools during health emergencies. –