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Time of India

New COVID variant NB.1.8.1 spreading fast in the U.S — is your vaccine effective? Will there be a summer surge?

A new COVID variant, NB.1.8.1, is gaining traction in the United States just as summer approaches. Despite its rarity, it appears to be more transmissible than current strains. While not yet dominant, officials are closely monitoring its expansion and potential impact on public health. Although experts say it's too soon to predict whether the virus will lead to more COVID cases this summer, health officials are closely monitoring the variant as it spreads throughout the world. NB.1.8.1 is categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a "variant under monitoring." A descendant of the Omicron JN.1 lineage, NB.1.8.1 was first identified in late January and has experienced a dramatic increase in cases worldwide in recent weeks, as per a report by Health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mountain Gear for Extreme Conditions Trek Kit India Learn More Undo How serious is NB.1.8.1 compared to other variants? The WHO's latest data shows that between April 21 and April 27, 10.7% of all sequenced COVID cases worldwide were caused by NB.1.8.1, up from 2.5% just one month earlier. According to Shira Doron, MD, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine, the variant is genetically distinct from LP.8.1, the dominant strain currently found in the United States. Live Events The variant may increase cases this summer because it seems more contagious than LP.8.1, the strain that is most prevalent globally. It appears to be no more effective than LP.8.1, though, at avoiding immunity from vaccinations or previous infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that it does not present an additional health risk because it has not discovered any evidence that it causes more serious illness. What are the symptoms of NB.1.8.1? Experts concur that NB.1.8.1 symptoms resemble those of other COVID infections. The majority of NB.1.8.1 patients should anticipate the following symptoms: Chills or fever, coughing, congestion and sore throat, weariness, breathing difficulties and diarrhea. The good news is that NB.1.8.1 doesn't seem to make people sicker than earlier versions. Could there be a summer COVID surge? While now accounting for only a small portion of U.S. cases, specialists are closely monitoring NB.1.8.1. Six spike protein mutations are present in the variation, which may improve its ability to spread and elude antibodies. According to Amy Edwards, MD, an infectious disease specialist and assistant professor of pediatrics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, those mutations and early data point to NB.1.8.1 being marginally more transmissible, as per a report by NBC News. However, because of NB.1.8.1 or another variation, the number of COVID cases in the United States is probably going to increase this summer. Over the past few years, COVID has experienced two significant increases: one in the mid-to-late summer and another in the winter, Schaffner said, in contrast to influenza, which has one significant increase annually in the winter. Are NB.1.8.1 and current vaccines still effective? Experts say that current vaccines provide some protection, and the variant does not appear to be more severe. Some protection against NB.1.8.1 should come from preexisting immunity from vaccinations or previous infections. The Food and Drug Administration has asked drugmakers to update Covid vaccines to target the LP.8.1 variant this fall. Data from Pfizer and Moderna suggest the updated vaccines would offer protection against NB.1.8.1 as well. However, the FDA has said it will limit its approval of updated Covid shots to older adults and younger people with a medical condition that puts them at risk of severe illness. Doctors worry that pregnant people and children under 5 may be vulnerable to severe outcomes from Covid this winter. Even healthy adults who've been vaccinated before might not have optimal protection. According to Doron, new COVID booster shots from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are also being developed and should be available in the early fall. Preliminary results indicate that they will be effective against NB.1.8.1 and other more prevalent strains in the United States. FAQs Does the new variant result in more severe illness? No, NB.1.8.1 does not appear to result in more severe symptoms than previous variants. Will current vaccines protect me from it? Yes, existing vaccines and boosters should provide some protection against NB.1.8.1.