COVID-19: New subvariant NB.18.1 driving increase in infections in WA
A new COVID-19 subvariant is driving an increase in infections in WA, with hospitalisations increasing to an average of 38 per day in the latest figures.
That was up from an average of 31 per day in the previous week.
The subvariant NB.1.8.1 is now the dominant COVID-19 subvariant in Perth wastewater, with concentrations of the virus also increasing.
NB.1.8.1 is behind surging infections in parts of Asia.
In Hong Kong, COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations have climbed to the worst levels in the past 12 months. It has recently been detected in the United States as well.
Whilst more transmissible, it's not believed to cause worse symptoms than its antecedents.
The World Health Organisation claims NB.1.8.1 is growing rapidly compared to co-circulating variants.
COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against the subvariant in regard to symptomatic and severe disease.
'Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data does not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation,' it reported on Friday.
Influenza activity in WA also increased in the week up to May 18.
'While notifications are above the seasonal threshold it does not yet indicate the start of the influenza season,' WA Health reported.
More than a quarter of influenza notifications so far in 2025 were in children aged under 15 years. Influenza notifications and hospitalisations are higher than the previous five-year average, while the number of deaths are lower.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity remains stable in WA, indicating the RSV season has not started.
West Australians are being urged to get their flu jabs, with health authorities warning influenza and respiratory syncytial virus cases are set to rise heading into winter.
State-funded free flu jabs are available for all West Australians aged five to 64 — including international visitors and those without a Medicare card — until June 30.
Free RSV immunisation is also available for infants and pregnant women.
As of Thursday this week, there had been 6528 cases of the flu in WA so far this year — while 469,475 people received the jab.
'WA Health encourages all eligible Western Australians to stay up to date with their immunisations and practise good hand and respiratory hygiene,' a spokesperson said.
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