All you need to know about new 'Nimbus' Covid strain as doctors issue UK warning
The new variant, called NB.1.8.1, or 'Nimbus' has reached UK shores and the strain is making up a "growing proportion" of Covid cases worldwide
Doctors have issued a warning over the new highly contagious 'Nimubs' strain of Covid, which has seen cases soar in the UK.
The new variant, called NB.1.8.1, or 'Nimbus' has reached UK shores and the strain is making up a "growing proportion" of Covid cases worldwide, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). China and Hong Kong have seen a surge in cases as well as 21 other countries and 13 cases have already been found in the UK, doctors warn. Symptoms are reported to be broadly the same as earlier versions of the virus with a painful sore throat a possible key sign of the new variant.
According to Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice, the NB.1.8.1 variant has a distinctive symptom, a severe sore throat known as a "razor blade sensation". Other signs of the new strain include common Covid symptoms like fever, muscle aches and congestion as well as redness in the back of the mouth and swollen neck glands.
"However, symptoms can vary widely so vigilance is key," Dr Asif told the Manchester Evening News. According to the NHS, Covid symptoms include a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss or change to sense of smell or taste, shortness of breath and feeling sick.
While early signs of Covid once included symptoms like a severe cough, sore throat and high fever, NB.1.8.1 is felt most acutely in the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms of the variant include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Heartburn
Bloating
Constipation
Abdominal pain
The World Health Organization (WHO) added the variant to its official watch list and suggested that it is more transmissible than other strains. However, there isn't any evidence to indicate that it causes more acute illnesses.
According to WHO, the strain first appeared in January and by late April it was responsible for around 10.7% of global infections, up from just 2.5% a month earlier. The strain has seen a rapid rise in Ireland in recent weeks. According to data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the proportion of sequenced Covid samples linked to NB.1.8.1 jumped from 3.7% to 27.3% in the last five weeks, reports Dublin Live.
People in Ireland have been urged to stay home for two days if they display any signs of Covid, with the new variant also causing gastrointestinal problems. The variant, labelled NB.1.8.1, has been flagged in the UK, US and Australia. It has also been linked to spikes in Covid cases in India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Deputy Director, said: "NB.1.8.1 has been detected in small numbers in the UK to date, but international data suggests that it is growing as a proportion of all COVID-19 cases.
"Based on the available information so far however, there is no evidence to suggest that this variant causes more severe disease than previous variants, or that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against it."
'Variants like this pop up when the virus mutates, which is normal for viruses, especially ones that spread widely,' explained Dr Chun Tang, GP at Pall Mall Medical. 'NB.1.8.1 was first picked up in early 2025 and has since been detected in several countries, including the UK, China and US. It's got some new mutations that scientists are keeping a close eye on.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Kate Garraway admits she 'no longer felt safe' while caring for Derek
Kate Garraway has revealed the heartbreaking moment she felt it was unsafe for her and her family as they cared for Derek Draper following his health complications after contracting Covid Kate Garraway has candidly opened up on the struggles she faced while caring for late husband Derek Draper, saying it got to the point she no longer felt safe. Derek, a political lobbyist, died aged 56 in 2022 following a cardiac arrest after years of health implications from long Covid. Derek's health rapidly deteriorated after he contracted coronavirus in March 2020. He died four years later in January 2024. Throughout his struggles, Good Morning Britain presenter Kate was by his side and was his primary carer. However, she has revealed how she got so tired at one stage that she felt the situation was no longer safe for her or her kids. Speaking to the Sun, Kate described a three-week gap in care for her husband while the system tried to work out which agency would be best suited to helping the family with the care he needed. She said during that time she "had no choice but to try to get through looking after Derek 24/7 completely alone". Kate confessed: "By the end I was so sleep-deprived I was scared it was no longer safe — for me, for the children, let alone for Derek. In desperation I called health services again and this time refused to get off the phone until some answer was given. "In the end, the person on the other end of the phone, who was also clearly exhausted, told me, 'There is nothing I can do but — and this isn't official — you are not alone and what I always say to people is take him to A&E and leave him there, then they legally have to do something." Kate was stunned that this was what the stage it had gotten to, questioning how the best solution appeared to be to "abandon" someone who wasn't safe to be left alone. She praised family members who helped with the awful situation, but realises others may not be so lucky. Kate also she admitted she still has a "tsunami of sadness" as she regularly wakes in the middle of night panicking she hasn't given her husband his medicine. She previously revealed the touching last moments she and her two kids shared with Derek. According to Kate in a discussion last year, proud dad Derek told his children, Darcey and Billy: "You're the best children anyone could ask for. Look after mum, be good for her." This was sadly last time Derek saw his two children before going into a coma. Kate openly praised her kids for how they handled their dad's condition and passing. Speaking on Good Morning Britain in February 2024, Kate said: "It was one of those stop-the-clock moments, where you want the world to stop. "It swamps you. We now have 24 hours, [which] turned out to be more of a month, of fighting on and fighting on, following the prognosis that he won't make it through. For the children when they heard he won't make it through, they've heard it so many times. "They were so beautiful, the children, about that. They individually had time with him on his own and Darcey said, 'If, dad, you can't do this, it's okay. Don't worry about us'. And I had similar conversations, a chance to hold his hand and smell his skin and hold him all the way through, and some people don't get that.
ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
Glastonbury Festival 2025: Measles warning as festival-goers urged to get MMR jab
Glastonbury festival-goers are being urged to make sure they are vaccinated against measles before heading to Worthy Farm. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is warning the highly infectious illness is circulating across the country, with high numbers in the South West and London. It says measles is easy to catch in environments like festivals or travelling. Glastonbury Festival gets underway in just under two weeks' time on 25 June and health experts say people need to be aware of the health risks so they can enjoy the event safely. These risks include sexually transmitted infections (STIs), weather-related illnesses, and the impact from drugs and alcohol. Dr Alasdair Wood, consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South West, said: "We want festival-goers to enjoy their time at Glastonbury and other festivals this year. "Being aware of the current health risks will help those attending enjoy their time, as much as possible. 'Measles is circulating across the country, and festivals are the perfect place for measles to spread. If you're not fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, please contact your GP to see if you can get an appointment before coming to the festival. "If you feel unwell or have been advised isolate as a result of measles or another infection, please continue to do so. "We are also seeing an increase in cases of STIs, with large rises particularly in young people. STIs aren't just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners. "Condoms are the best defence, but if you didn't use one the last time you had sex with a new or casual partner, get tested to detect any potential infections early and prevent passing them on to others. "Testing is important because you may not have any symptoms of an STI." Alison Bell, Acting Director of Public Health for Somerset Council, said: "Keeping yourself safe over the Glastonbury weekend is paramount. "Most health risks can be avoided by taking simple steps to help protect yourself, remembering to keep yourself cool and avoid excess alcohol can help keep you safe during periods of hot weather. 'We are encouraging everyone who attends the Festival to take some basic steps to protect themselves and others. "Familiarise yourself with the health and safety advice on the Glastonbury Festival website and app before you travel and encourage your friends to do the same. "Avoid travelling if you are feeling acutely unwell. Stay hydrated and avoid excessive alcohol consumption, particularly in hot weather. "Wash hands regularly and carry hand sanitiser with you. Never take a BBQ into a tent - despite being out in the fresh air, carbon monoxide can build up to levels that can kill very quickly in enclosed spaces. "Stay safe in the sun by using sun lotion, wearing a hat and seeking shade in the hottest parts of the day. "Seek advice if you become unwell – there are medical facilities around the Festival site, including two dispensing and retail pharmacies.' The UKHSA has issued its festival and summer safety tips: Get your MMR vaccine Measles is currently circulating across the country, with high numbers of cases in the South West and London. Symptoms of measles include a high fever, sore red watery eyes and a blotchy red brown rash and is particularly easy to catch in environments when in close contact with others such as festivals or travelling. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness, so anyone with symptoms is advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice, before visiting the GP surgery or A&E, to prevent the illness spreading further. By far the best way to protect yourself and those around you from measles is the MMR vaccine. The UKHSA has recently urged parents of young children, teenagers and adults to check that they are up to date with their MMR vaccines, particularly before they travel this summer and before attending summer festivals where measles can spread more easily. It is never too late to catch up: If anyone has missed one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, contact your GP practice to book an appointment. Prepare for the weather While it's too early for a forecast for this year's festival, it's important to pack for all possibilities. Remember to pack wellies/sturdy boots as well as appropriate changes of clothing should the weather change, e.g. waterproofs, it can be hot in the day and chilly at night, so bring something to keep you warm too. Hot weather in particular can pose a health risk for some people. Festival guests are reminded to stay safe during periods of hot weather, especially when walking around the Festival. Remember to carry a refillable water bottle with you and drink it throughout the day, wear sun cream and a sunhat and avoid excess alcohol. Remember to look out for one another. Keep a look-out for signs of heat-related harm in yourself, your friends, and other people around the Festival. The signs include: a headache; dizziness and confusion; loss of appetite and feeling sick; excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin; cramps in the arms, legs and stomach; fast breathing or pulse; a high temperature of 38C or above; being very thirsty. If you experience any of these symptoms, drink some water or diluted fruit juice to rehydrate, find somewhere shaded to sit down and rest and avoid excess alcohol. If symptoms have not gone away after 30 minutes of resting, seek help from one of the medical centres at the Festival. Practice safe sex: Cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly syphilis are increasing. UKHSA is reminding everyone having sex with new or casual partners before or at the Festival to wear a condom and get tested regularly, whatever their age or sexual orientation. Testing is free and confidential and you should get tested even if you are not showing any symptoms. Be tick aware: UKHSA is also encouraging people to 'be tick aware' by regularly checking clothing and exposed skin for ticks that might be crawling on you and brushing them off immediately if outdoors this summer. Peak tick season in the UK usually begins in March, with most bites commonly reported during May and June and ends in October, although ticks can be active all year round. The use of insect repellents such as DEET can repel ticks and prevent them from climbing onto clothing or attaching to skin (always follow the manufacturer's instructions). If you spot a tick, you must remove as soon as possible using a tick-removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers. These can be purchased in pharmacies. To remove a tick, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards slowly and firmly. Avoid illegal substances: The message from Glastonbury Festivals is not to use illegal substances on the site. The dealing in or use of illegal drugs is not condoned by the festival and drug enforcement laws are as applicable on the festival site as anywhere else in the country – you risk being evicted from the site if found with them. Festival attendees are reminded if they do ignore that advice and become ill or experience unusual effects from any substances taken, to seek immediate help from the medical or welfare services on site who can provide help and support. Polydrug use – using more than one drug at a time – intensifies the effects of the drugs, making them more dangerous. Mixing alcohol alongside other drugs is one of the most common forms of polydrug use and can seriously increase the strength and impact of those substances, increasing the chances of a potentially fatal chemical reaction. An overdose won't always look the same but some of the signs to look out for are: falling unconscious, very light shallow breathing or no breathing, loud raspy 'snoring' or gurgling, blue or pale lips or fingertips. If in doubt, seek medical attention immediately.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Covid left me in a blacked out room, then I was put in a mental health unit'
Brandon says the initial Covid virus wasn't too bad - but the symptoms after were 'terrifying' A man was locked in a psychiatric ward and accused of being delusional after developing a terrifying condition he believes was triggered by Covid. Brandon Green's symptoms included extreme sensitivity to light, hives and a range of allergies; he was eventually forced to spend 20 months living in a blacked-out room. The 37-year-old contracted Covid in 2020 and says that he was not particularly ill - but the experience was strange. 'The virus itself wasn't too bad' Brandon says, 'but it was weird. I could feel something in my brain. For weeks afterwards, my tongue would go numb, my foot would drop for a whole week, I couldn't speak for hours. I'd blank out mid-conversation. It was like I couldn't access my brain.' The next sign that something was wrong was when he used a supermarket sunscreen on his face and had an unusual reaction. 'By the end of the day, I was burnt all over,' he says. 'And the following days and weeks, every time I would go out in the sun, I would feel intense burning.' As time passed, Brandon's symptoms worsened. He developed extreme sensitivity to sunlight that felt like being burned by a blowtorch, hives on his skin and a bizarre sensitivity to metal. 'I couldn't sleep on a mattress because the springs would burn me, so I just moved to the floor,' he explains. He also developed an allergy to mould that left him struggling to breathe and severe sensitivity to electromagnetic radiation, which got worse week by week. By April 2022 he was forced to spend his days in a blacked out room with the curtains taped shut to ensure no light crept in. He was only able to venture out at night and jokes he lived for late night shopping on Thursdays. Brandon was terrified but trips to the doctors left him feeling hopeless. 'Doctors didn't know what to do and kept saying I was making it up,' he said. 'I once had a doctor laugh at me because I said I got relief from acupuncture.' He was ill, exhausted and incredibly frustrated when events took a turn for the worse. Worried friends had contacted a psychiatrist who appeared at his door in 2023 to talk to him. Later that night he had a phone call from the doctor, explaining that he thought he was suffering delusions and that a mental health team was on the way to assess him who then took him to a psychiatric ward. 'As soon as I arrived at the facility, I went out to the basketball court for fresh air, and saw a young guy trying to choke himself with his jumper, wrapping it around his neck and pulling on each end of it,' Brandon said. 'I ran and told the nurse and security. By the time they arrived he'd stopped what he was doing, seen me dob on him and the nurse and security weren't impressed with me - explaining that he was fine. I later got a mouthful from the guy.' Staff wanted to medicate him, but Brandon refused. 'They told me I was delusional, that I had schizophrenia. They wanted to pump me full of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. I was scared,' he said. Locked up with patients with severe mental illness, his condition worsened and he was plagued with asthma attacks. 'I kept thinking, this is a place for people with mental illness, but I'm here because they think I'm crazy when really I'm sick.' After two days, he was allowed home, exhausted and bewildered - and with no answers about what was really wrong with him. A few months later there was finally progress. Brandon's doctor told him he had Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a condition where immune cells overreact and release excessive chemical mediators. He was prescribed Mast Cell Stabilising drugs. There have been multiple reports of people developed MCAS after having Covid and a number of specialists believe that the condition can be triggered by the virus. Over the next few weeks Brandon noticed gradual improvement and by December 2023 - after 20 months of living in the dark - he was finally able to tolerate more light. 'By Christmas Day I was fully out,' he says. 'A true Christmas miracle.' But despite significant improvements, he still struggles with debilitating symptoms that doctors are unable to explain. I want to get better. I want people to understand what I've been through,' he says. 'I've forgiven my friends and family; they were only trying to help. But I would hope the medical establishment would reflect on themselves and improve. We should be able to expect better from doctors and experts.'
