US sees COVID variant NB.1.8.1 surge: Why are more than 300 people in America still dying from pandemic every week?
Omicron sublineage
JN.1, NB.1.8.1 has been associated with a recent spike in infections across Asia and has now been identified in the United States.
Health officials are closely tracking its spread to assess its impact. First detected in China, NB.1.8.1 has quickly emerged as the dominant strain there, driving a sharp rise in case numbers. It has also been reported in Singapore and Hong Kong, with recent cases in the U.S. uncovered through airport surveillance programs.
Why are people dying of Covid in US?
Despite significant progress in managing COVID-19, the virus continues to claim lives in the United States. As of May 2025, an average of approximately 350 people are dying from COVID-19 each week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).According to a report in ABC News, more than five years after the first cases of COVID-19 were detected in the United States, hundreds of people are still dying every week which shows concerning signs. Last month, an average of about 350 people died each week from COVID, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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While high, the number of deaths is decreasing and is lower than the peak of 25,974 deaths recorded the week ending Jan. 9, 2021, as well as weekly deaths seen in previous spring months, CDC data shows. Even though US is in a much better place than it was a few years ago, COVID is still a threat to high-risk groups, health experts told ABC News.
"The fact that we're still seeing deaths just means it's still circulating, and people are still catching it," Dr. Tony Moody, a professor in the department of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at Duke University Medical Center, told ABC News.
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The experts said there are a few reasons why people might still be dying from the virus, including low vaccination uptake, waning immunity and not enough people accessing treatments.
Factors causing Covid deaths in US
Low vaccine rates and waning impunity: During the 2024–2025 season, only 23% of adults aged 18 and older received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, with even lower uptake among children at 13% . Dr. Gregory Poland, a vaccinologist and president of the Atria Research Institute, notes that some individuals may not develop a strong immune response due to genetic factors or immunocompromised conditions.
Additionally, immunity from vaccines diminishes over time, increasing susceptibility to infection. This is particularly concerning for older adults, who may experience immunosenescence—a natural decline in immune function with age. The CDC reports that individuals aged 75 and older have the highest COVID-19 death rate, at 4.66 per 100,000 people.
Underutilization of effective treatment: Antiviral treatments like Paxlovid (Pfizer) and molnupiravir (Merck) are available and have been shown to reduce the severity of COVID-19 when administered promptly. However, these treatments must be initiated within five days of symptom onset to be effective. Dr. Tony Moody, a professor at Duke University Medical Center, emphasizes that many individuals are not accessing these treatments in time, which could prevent severe outcomes and deaths.
While the overall COVID-19 death rate has decreased from earlier peaks, the virus remains a significant threat, especially to high-risk populations. Improving vaccination rates and ensuring timely access to effective treatments are critical steps in reducing ongoing fatalities
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