Dangerous new Nimbus Covid virus strain now detected in 13 states as doctors warn of unique symptom
Experts are warning of a dangerous new Covid variant spreading in over a dozen states.
NB.1.8.1, nicknamed 'Nimbus,' first originated from China, where it has been linked to a rise in cases and ER visits.
It was first detected in the US in late March and data suggests it now makes up over one in three Covid cases in the US, making it the second-most common variant.
Early studies indicate it can attach to human cells more efficiently than its predecessors, making it the most infectious strain yet.
Recently, many people infected with Covid have been reporting a symptom dubbed 'razor blade throat' — sharp pain that feels more severe than with previous strains.
The CDC has not yet published official tracking data on the new variant.
However, officials at the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) reported as of June 11, Nimbus has been found in 13 states, including California, New York, New Jersey, and Hawaii.
The Covid-19 virus mutates constantly, and lab tests have shown new changes to the 'Nimbus' strain's spike protein, which may make it more infectious than currently circulating strains and potentially cause more severe illness.
World Health Organization data also suggests it makes up more than half the variants currently circulating worldwide.
The name 'Nimbus' was coined by Canadian evolutionary biologist T Ryan Gregory, the mind behind many popular variant names.
Researchers have found that the latest Omicron offshoot strain showed the strongest ability to attach to the receptor that acts as a doorway for the virus to enter human cells in lab tests, 'suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains,' according to Dr Lara Herrero, a virologist at Griffith University in Australia.
A preprint study on the strain also showed that antibodies from vaccines and past infection were about half as effective at blocking it as the LP.8.1.1 strain which is currently dominant in the US.
Covid patients have shared online that the severe sore throat has kept them from sleeping for several consecutive nights, had them 'whimpering' and 'clawing' at their throats, left them unable to swallow without excruciating pain, and unable to speak for about a week.
Nimbus has been significant in parts of Asia for weeks, causing over 1,000 infections in India and about 14,000 in Hong Kong and Singapore.
It has since been labeled as a 'variant under monitoring' by the World Health Organization.
Despite its spread across 22 countries so far, the WHO maintains it poses a relatively global public health threat thanks to wide vaccine coverage and population immunity.
The global agency said: 'Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease.
'Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalizations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation.'
Experts expect an uptick in cases this summer, noting there has been one every summer since 2020. By mid- to late-summer, immunity has waned from the previous fall's booster or from a previous infection.
People also spend more time in indoor air-conditioned spaces, where most viral transmission occurs. And the summer months have typically always seen a rise in more transmissible variants.
Dr Albert Ko, an epidemiologist at Yale School of Public Health, told Today: 'We may see an upswing (this) summer as in previous years, and this is expected to be smaller compared to what we experience in the winter.'
Vaccine companies are in the midst of updating their shots to fit the 'Nimbus' strain. Moderna said late last month that its updated mNEXSPIKE shot will be available by the fall.
A lower dose than the typical Covid vaccines is specially formulated for adults 65 and older, as well as people 12 to 64 with at least one or more underlying risk factor for severe Covid, such as cancer, diabetes, HIV, being overweight, or pregnant.
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