New Covid-19 Variant Rapidly Spreads Across Continents
Rabat — A newly identified COVID-19 variant known as NB.1.8.1 is spreading rapidly across multiple parts of the world, raising concerns among global health experts. The variant, which belongs to the Omicron family, was first detected in January 2025 and has since reached countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, China, India, Maldives and Egypt.
According to British news reports, doctors in Ireland have reported that NB.1.8.1 is causing unusual symptoms compared to previous strains. In addition to common signs like sore throat and fatigue, patients are also experiencing gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, heartburn, bloating, and abdominal pain.
Irish health authorities are urging anyone with these symptoms to stay home and avoid contact with others until 48 hours after symptoms resolve, warning that the illness could be mistaken for seasonal colds or stomach bugs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially labeled it a 'Variant Under Monitoring,' meaning it is spreading fast enough to warrant attention, but not enough to be classified as a major threat.
The Global Virus Network, a leading coalition of virologists and medical researchers, says there is no current evidence that this variant causes more severe illness than previous ones. Like earlier Omicron sub-variants, NB.1.8.1 includes genetic changes that help it spread more easily, but vaccines—especially updated booster doses—continue to protect from the most severe effects.
While breakthrough infections can still happen, especially among people who are unvaccinated or have not received a recent booster, vaccinated individuals are reportedly far less likely to suffer serious illness. Health experts stress that the main benefit of COVID-19 vaccination is not avoiding infection altogether, but avoiding severe outcomes like hospitalization, long-term complications, or death.
Global spread
Recent data from the WHO shows that NB.18.1 has been detected in at least 22 countries. Between late April and early May, the variant grew from just 2.5 percent to over 10 percent of global samples. In India, over 4,300 active COVID-19 cases have been reported as of early June, with nearly 300 new infections in a single day. Several states, including Delhi and Kerala, have seen consistent rises in cases.
In Taiwan, hospital visits linked to COVID-19 symptoms rose nearly 80 percent in one week at the end of April. In the US, the variant has been identified in multiple states, first through airport screening and later in community cases, including in Washington, Ohio, and Hawaii. The US continues to report roughly 300 COVID-related deaths each week.
In response to this growing spread, the Global Virus Network is urging eligible individuals to get vaccinated or boosted. Adults over 65, people with chronic health conditions, and pregnant individuals are strongly encouraged to stay up to date on their COVID-19 shots.
Pediatric vaccination is also being emphasized, particularly for children who have not received an updated dose in the past year. Vaccination during pregnancy, experts note, offers significant protection to both mother and baby, lowering the risk of hospitalization for infants and reducing complications related to COVID-19 infection during pregnancy.
Although the rise of NB.1.8.1 has not triggered emergency action, experts say it is a clear reminder of the need for strong global surveillance, continued scientific cooperation, and public awareness. The emergence of new variants is expected, they stress, and should be met with preparation rather than panic. This moment, they say, is not a crisis—but a chance to stay ahead.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
11 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
British tourist dies of rabies after contact with stray dog in Morocco
A man from Yorkshire, northern England, has died from rabies after coming into contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced on Wednesday. The UKHSA reassured that there is no risk to the wider public and no evidence that rabies can be transmitted from person to person. However, close contacts are being «assessed and offered vaccination where necessary», the agency added. This is not the first time a British tourist has contracted rabies while visiting Morocco. In 2018, another holidaymaker died after being bitten by a cat during their stay in the country.
Morocco World
13 hours ago
- Morocco World
British Woman Dies of Rabies After Slight Scratch from Puppy in Morocco
Rabat — A British woman, Yvonne Ford, has died of rabies in the UK four months after being 'very slightly' scratched by a puppy during a visit to Morocco. British media reported the news, noting that the woman died on June 11. She was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the UK. The 59-year-old woman was from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She came in contact with a stray dog when she was on holiday in February. Ford's family said Yvonne first developed symptoms like a headache, and later could not walk, talk, sleep, or swallow. The woman's daughter, Robyn Thomson, said Yvonne's relatives are still processing the 'unimaginable loss,' noting that they are choosing to speak up to avoid and prevent this from happening to others. 'She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it,' her post on Facebook reads. She asked people to get vaccinated even if a minor scratch or a bite happens, as this could transmit the virus. The UK Health Security Agency said that there was no risk to the public due to no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. The incident came amid renewed criticism in Western media, which often portrays Morocco as hostile to stray animals, while ignoring the growing national efforts to address the issue. In response to rising concerns, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit recently announced in May that the government is rolling out an ambitious national program with a budget exceeding MAD 1 billion (over $100 million), aimed at controlling the stray dog population and ensuring public safety. Morocco has been stepping up its efforts to tackle the situation, but much of the international coverage continues to overlook the initiatives being led by local communities to protect both people and animals. Tags: Stray Animalsstray dogs
Ya Biladi
19 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
«It's not a war, it's a genocide» : Moroccan doctor returns from Gaza with harrowing testimony
Dr. Abdelkbir Hassini, an anesthesiologist and resuscitation specialist at Hassan II Provincial Hospital in Khouribga (from 1990 to 2016), has devoted nearly thirty-five years to cases requiring his expertise. True to the spirit of the Hippocratic Oath, he took part in an international humanitarian mission in the Gaza Strip from May 29 to June 12, 2025, supporting Palestinian medical staff on the ground. Through the Beverly Hills–based Rahma NGO, and as a member of the Moroccan coordination of Doctors for Palestine, Dr. Hassini spent fifteen days in Khan Younis alongside specialists from Australia, Germany, the UK, and the United States. «With the World Health Organization (WHO), this organization is one of the few currently capable of organizing international humanitarian missions in the Gaza Strip. Despite restrictions on supplies, we were able to bring some medical provisions, equipment, and vital components for our operations. Quantities had to be limited to avoid potential seizures, but we managed to bring in a few batches», Dr. Hassini explains. Having just returned to Morocco, Dr. Hassini, currently working in the private sector, has already resumed his duties, carrying the heavy weight of an intense mission amid the total siege of Gaza. Between anesthesia and resuscitation interventions, he shared with Yabiladi the devastating effects of nearly three years of Israeli military offensives in the region, where «the medical infrastructure is practically out of service». «My assignment reflects a situation words cannot fully capture. Initially, I was supposed to join Nasser Hospital, Gaza's largest remaining referral hospital. But due to the lack of resources on site to carry out medical procedures in our specialties, we were reassigned to Al Amal Hospital. The entire hospital infrastructure in northern Gaza is now unable to accommodate and care for the wounded needing resuscitation, including the European Hospital in Khan Younis», he says. An «exemplary» organization amid a «catastrophic situation» On the ground, «the situation is catastrophic», and even Al Amal Hospital is at risk of being shut down, especially as the ceasefire no longer holds despite numerous UN warnings to Israel. During Dr. Hassini's mission, the WHO also warned that Gaza's health system was collapsing. «There are no longer any operational hospitals in northern Gaza. Nasser and Al Amal are the last two functioning public hospitals in Khan Younis, where most of the population now lives. Without these facilities, essential health services can no longer be provided», the organization cautioned. Speaking to Yabiladi, Dr. Hassini recounted his experience in real time: «Nearly three days into our mission, the director of Al Amal Hospital informed us that the facility was in what the occupation calls an 'evacuation zone,' putting patients and staff at risk. After some hesitation, our NGO reassured us, and we continued operating on site». The permanent medical team and volunteer humanitarians were vital, as the hospital handles all severe injuries that cannot be treated elsewhere. «Severe injuries number in the dozens daily, all received by a single facility with fully mobilized healthcare staff and resuscitation beds at capacity», says Dr. Hassini. «We were able to provide necessary care to patients, especially thanks to the complementary expertise among specialists on site and the diverse mission team I was part of emergency doctors, anesthesiologists, trauma surgeons, and ophthalmologists. We organized a care circuit covering first aid, intensive care, and complex surgeries requiring large quantities of blood. In this regard, I must commend the high skill level of the Palestinian medical staff, who work under these conditions every day in an exemplary way». Describing the conditions, the doctor paints a picture of «inhumane and unimaginable situations, daily killings, and extreme cruelty that even the images from Gaza don't fully show». Among the cases that stayed with him, he recounts one that «illustrates the complex and multifaceted suffering of a single individual and family among the civilian population». «It was a young man who came to Al Amal Hospital carrying his severely injured daughter. The child needed immediate anesthesia and surgery. The father told us that his wife had been maimed in the same attack, and their son had been hit in the face. This reveals that beyond the many patients we see, there's an invisible face of cruelty, transfers impossible outside Gaza, uncounted dead, dismembered bodies, and injured people that families tally every day», he laments. Unjustifiable silence Amid this emergency response, Dr. Hassini praises «the organizational capacity of Palestinian colleagues, who manage to sustain stocks of supplies and medical equipment despite the health system being targeted by the occupation. This allowed us to provide the injured and patients with the necessary blood, pharmaceuticals, and pre-operative care». «When faced with such situations, it is our faith in life that prevails and motivates us as medical professionals. We have no choice but to treat all patients. The Palestinian population's attachment to life constantly reminded us of this, it is one of the greatest lessons from these missions. The citizens of Gaza count their dead and injured every day, yet their hope for a better tomorrow after all this genocide remains intact, and their morale grows stronger». In this context, Dr. Hassini insists, «It must be said: this is no longer a war, it is genocide». «I share the dismay and astonishment of my fellow humanitarian mission members», he adds. He also expresses his «total incomprehension at the unjustifiable silence of the international community, witnessing so much terror and unable to stop the massacre». Under such circumstances, the doctor reflects, «One returns deeply marked by what is happening on the ground, but also strengthened by the mental fortitude that is a tool of resistance for the Palestinian people, a force that makes us question our own everyday challenges and concerns».
