ieExplains: What is the new covid variant and is it in Ireland?
Is there a new strain of covid?
Yes. It is called NB.1.8.1, and is a sub-variant of the Omicron variant.
Omicron was the dominant strain in Ireland at the end of 2021 and 2022.
The new strain was first detected in January 2025.
What is the new strain?
In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the NB.1.8.1 strain of covid as a 'variant under monitoring", and the public health risk posed by it is "evaluated as low at the global level".
It said: "Currently, approved covid vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against 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."
The new strain comprised of 13.6% of all cases in the week ending May 18. While the percentage remains low, this is an increase from 0.7% in the week ending April 20.
Have there been any cases in Ireland yet?
Yes. As of June 9, there are 19 cases linked to this variant of the virus detected in Ireland. The first case was detected here on April 16.
In the five-week period from April 20 to May 24, the new strain accounted for 13.6% of all sequenced cases — compared to 4.3% in the previous five weeks.
Those figures are based on GISAid sequence data. GISAid is a global science initiative that monitors and provides access to data on influenza viruses.
In response to a query from the Irish Examiner, the HSE said that based on WHO data and on the mutation profile, there is no evidence of increased severity or impact on vaccine effectiveness against severe disease.
The HSE added that since the end of March 2025, levels of covid have shown a slow but steady increase. However, "levels of hospitalisations, ICU admissions, and deaths remain low".
Is it the only covid variant?
No. There are still multiple covid variants. In a statement last week, the WHO said that the variants "continue to evolve".
They said: "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."
At the moment, six variants are being tracked.
What are the symptoms of the new covid variant?
Common symptoms align with typical Omicron subvariants from the height of the pandemic in 2021.
They include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and a sore throat.
Writing in The Conversation, Australian virologist Lara Herrero said: "The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data.
"But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants."
The WHO does note that the global public health risk associated with covid remains high. There has been evidence of "decreasing impact on human health" throughout 2023 and 2024.
The HSE has said that anyone with covid symptoms, even mild ones, should stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms are mostly or fully gone.
People should also avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk of severe covid.
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Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
ieExplains: What is the new covid variant and is it in Ireland?
Is there a new strain of covid? Yes. It is called NB.1.8.1, and is a sub-variant of the Omicron variant. Omicron was the dominant strain in Ireland at the end of 2021 and 2022. The new strain was first detected in January 2025. What is the new strain? In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the NB.1.8.1 strain of covid as a 'variant under monitoring", and the public health risk posed by it is "evaluated as low at the global level". It said: "Currently, approved covid vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against 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." The new strain comprised of 13.6% of all cases in the week ending May 18. While the percentage remains low, this is an increase from 0.7% in the week ending April 20. Have there been any cases in Ireland yet? Yes. As of June 9, there are 19 cases linked to this variant of the virus detected in Ireland. The first case was detected here on April 16. In the five-week period from April 20 to May 24, the new strain accounted for 13.6% of all sequenced cases — compared to 4.3% in the previous five weeks. Those figures are based on GISAid sequence data. GISAid is a global science initiative that monitors and provides access to data on influenza viruses. In response to a query from the Irish Examiner, the HSE said that based on WHO data and on the mutation profile, there is no evidence of increased severity or impact on vaccine effectiveness against severe disease. The HSE added that since the end of March 2025, levels of covid have shown a slow but steady increase. However, "levels of hospitalisations, ICU admissions, and deaths remain low". Is it the only covid variant? No. There are still multiple covid variants. In a statement last week, the WHO said that the variants "continue to evolve". They said: "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." At the moment, six variants are being tracked. What are the symptoms of the new covid variant? Common symptoms align with typical Omicron subvariants from the height of the pandemic in 2021. They include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and a sore throat. Writing in The Conversation, Australian virologist Lara Herrero said: "The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data. "But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants." The WHO does note that the global public health risk associated with covid remains high. There has been evidence of "decreasing impact on human health" throughout 2023 and 2024. The HSE has said that anyone with covid symptoms, even mild ones, should stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms are mostly or fully gone. People should also avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk of severe covid.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
More than 4,000 affected by Tipperary boil water notice
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The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
New coronavirus only ‘one small step from spilling over into humans' and sparking widespread outbreak, say scientists
A NEW coronavirus may only be "a small step away from spilling over into humans", scientists have warned - sparking fears of another pandemic. Scientists believe the variant, called 1 Dr Michael Letko, a molecular virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, is leading the research into the concerning variant Credit: Ted S. Warren/College of Veterinary Medicine/WSU American scientists fear the virus - found in China - may be one small mutation away from also being able to infect humans, which could lead to a widespread outbreak. The new study, published in , looked at a lesser-known group of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses. It includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, which is responsible for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. First noted in 2012, the virus typically spreads from infected camels to humans and causes severe respiratory disease, which can be fatal to 34 per cent of its victims. Read more on pandemics The research team, which included scientists at Washington State University (WSU), the California Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina, sought to understand how merbecoviruses infiltrate the cells of their hosts. While most bugs in the group seemed to pose little threat to people, scientists said one subgroup, HKU5, has concerning traits. Michael Letko, a virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, said: "Merbecoviruses – and HKU5 viruses in particular – really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells. "What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans." Most read in Health Like other coronaviruses, merbecoviruses rely on a spike protein to bind to receptors and invade host cells. Dr Letko's team used virus-like particles containing the part of the spike protein responsible for binding to receptors and tested their ability to infect cells in their lab. World is not prepared for looming Disease X pandemic says Doctor Tedros Ghebreyesus While most merbecoviruses appeared unlikely to be able to infect humans, HKU5 viruses — which have been found across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East — were shown to use a host receptor known as ACE2, the same used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. But for now HKU5 viruses can only use the ACE2 gene in bats and can't deploy it on humans nearly as well. Examining HKU5 viruses found in Asia - where their host is the Japanese house bat - the researchers demonstrated some mutations in the spike protein that may allow the viruses to bind to ACE2 receptors in other species, including humans. 'These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,' Dr Letko said. 'While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there — and that makes them worth watching.' Dr Letko said the study and its methods could be used for future research projects and to help the development of new vaccines and treatments. What is the new Covid variant confirmed in the UK? The new strain - called NB.1.8.1 - has been spotted in the parts of the UK, such as Ireland and Wales. It's also cropped up in Europe, the US and Australia, as well as Egypt, the Maldives, Thailand, China and Hong Kong. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued a warning over NB.1.8.1, designating it as a "variant under monitoring" due to its global spread and key mutations. 'Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations 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,' the WHO said. But while it may not be particularly severe, it may infect people more easily than previous variants, with some evidence suggesting that the variant binds more tightly to human cells. The WHO stressed that, based on available evidence, the variant's risk to public health was "low at the global level". "Currently approved Covid-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease," it added. Symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and a blocked nose. Some people may also get gastrointestinal symptoms. It's not the first time concerns have been raised over HKU5. Earlier this year, Chinese scientists warned that This suggests a higher potential for zoonotic spillover - when a disease spreads from animal to human. If there is no 'intermediate middle animal', it becomes harder to predict and prevent spillover events through interactions such as wildlife trading or hunting. "There is the potential for this new virus to spillover to humans, like previous coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2," said Dr Gary R McLean, a research fellow at the Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study. But he noted that, so far, there is no "evidence" that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect people – the paper is based on tests in a laboratory, showing the bug's "potential". "Hopefully the Chinese authorities now have good surveillance systems in place and the laboratories work to rigid safety standards that minimise the risk of spillover occurring," he said. The WHO has previously listed MERS and Covid as two of several diseases - alongside the mysterious disease X - that could spark a pandemic, but for which there is no specific treatment or vaccine.
