Latest news with #T.RyanGregory
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
COVID cases on rise in these US states as new variant ‘stratus' spreads. Here's what to know
COVID-19 cases are once again rising across the United States, and health experts believe a new variant, called XFG or 'stratus,' may be to blame. The increase is happening earlier than expected, just before schools reopen, raising fears of more spread in classrooms, Axios reported. The Stratus variant (XFG) of COVID-19 was first detected in January in Southeast Asia,(REUTERS) The variant was first detected in January in Southeast Asia. The World Health Organization had classified it as a 'variant under monitoring' by June, due to its global spread. XFG was given its cloud-themed nickname "Stratus" by evolutionary biologist T. Ryan Gregory. Also read: Trump to meet Putin in Alaska airbase tomorrow: All you need to know about the summit Experts warn of possible summer wave Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 12 states have much higher COVID-19 test positivity rates than the rest of the country. Arizona is among the worst hit, with a positivity rate above 11 per cent. Other states in the southern US, and along the West Coast, are also seeing cases rise or are likely to rise soon. Here is the list of states with the highest COVID test positivity. New Mexico (12%) Texas (12%) Oklahoma (12%) Arkansas (12%) Louisiana (12%) Nevada (11.3%) Arizona (11.3%) California (11.3%) Alaska (11.1%) Washington (11.1%) Oregon (11.1%) Idaho (11.1%) It has been observed that the US faces two distinct waves of COVID, one in the winter and another in the summer, as per USA Today. New variants, peaks in travel and decreasing immunity from prior infection and vaccination can lead to the surge, experts note. Stratus COVID variant: Symptoms The symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, headache, fever or chills, cough, congestion or runny nose, shortness of breath, new loss of sense of taste or smell, muscle aches, and nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Also read: Prince William once spent a night sleeping on London streets, and here's what happened Stratus COVID variant: How to stay safe? People can take simple steps to be cautious, stay home if unwell and immediately get tested if symptoms appear. Wearing masks in crowded and indoor spaces can help as well, reported. Officials have encouraged people to check the eligibility for updated COVID-19 vaccines or boosters. "Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease," the WHO stated in its June report. For now, the CDC continues to monitor the situation closely, urging Americans to stay informed and take precautions. FAQs Q1. What is the 'stratus' variant? It's a new COVID-19 variant suspected to be driving recent case surges in the US. Q2. Which states are most affected? Arizona and 11 other states have the highest test positivity rates in the country. Q3. What precautions are recommended? Stay home if sick. Get tested if symptoms appear, wear masks in crowded indoor areas, and check eligibility for updated vaccines or boosters.
Hamilton Spectator
18-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
What do Harry Potter and razor blades have to do with the newest COVID-19 strain expected to become dominant in Ontario?
A new strain of COVID-19 is circulating in communities around the globe — including in Canada and Ontario. The new strain is a variation of the Omicron variant, formally named NB. 1.8.1, and was spotted in January. Experts suggest it will become the dominant strain in Ontario. The new COVID-19 strain has been nicknamed Nimbus — which is easier to remember, but for some is a nod to Harry Potter's broomstick. According to , University of Guelph professor Dr. T. Ryan Gregory was the first to share the nickname of the variant on X . Two new variants are competing for dominance: NB.1.8.1 and XFG. We recently nicknamed NB.1.8.1 "Nimbus", and it's pretty clear that XFG deserves a nickname as well. Keeping with the meteorological theme, XFG = "Stratus". Here's some more info about Nimbus and Stratus. 🧵 1/ Nimbus was used as a description, based on the meteorological term for a jagged type of storm cloud, said. And the jagged name fits, as this variant may leave you with a sore throat, which various sources have described as feeling like 'razor blades.' As quoted in a Toronto Star article , Dr. Fahad Razak, an internal medicine physician at St. Michael's Hospital and former scientific director of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, explained while he's heard these claims, sore throats aren't new for people who get COVID-19 — adding there's likely no significance to the online reports. Other symptoms include typical COVID-19 symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, fever, chills, fatigue or weakness, muscle or body aches, headache and a loss of smell or taste. Difficulty breathing and diarrhea and vomiting can also be attributed to the strain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this is 'a variant under monitoring,' with increased circulation in western Pacific region, the Americas, and the European region. Twenty-two countries have reported the strain. Public Health Ontario reports that the risk of COVID-19 infections remains low — with 157 patients confirmed to have an infection for the week of June 1 to 7. But health officials are watching the Nimbus strain, with projections the transmission rate would start to increase, with 47 cases reported from April 20 to May 17 . Health experts predict a possible summer uptick in transmission and encourage people to get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster. 'Eligible individuals six months to 11 years old who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine by June 17, as the vaccine for this age group (Moderna) will be expiring,' the province said on its website . 'Vaccines for this age group will be available (again) in fall 2025.' The spring, COVID-19 vaccine season ends for eligible individuals 12 years and older on June 30, the province added. Many pharmacies have COVID-19 vaccines available, but you might want to call ahead to confirm. Check the province's portal at for more details. Health officials also suggest going back to mask‑wearing and hand hygiene practises to lower the risk of transmission. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
What is ‘Nimbus'? New COVID variant spreading in THESE 14 US states, know symptoms here
Just before the busy summer travel season in the US, a new COVID variant called NB.1.8.1—also known as 'Nimbus'—is quickly spreading across the world. This version of the virus, which is part of the Omicron family, recently caused a rise in cases in parts of Asia. Now, it's responsible for over one-third of all COVID infections in the US, according to new data. Health officials first found the variant in the US in late March through testing international travelers at airports. Since then, it's been spotted in over a dozen states, and numbers are expected to grow. On May 23, the World Health Organization called NB.1.8.1 a 'variant under monitoring' because of how fast it's spreading and changes in its spike protein that could affect how easily it spreads. The nickname 'Nimbus' was given in late May on X by Canadian evolutionary biologist T. Ryan Gregory, who also came up with names for other COVID variants like the 'FLiRT' strains. While this variant is making up more cases in the US, overall COVID numbers haven't changed much. As of June 7, the test positivity rate was 3%, which is just a 0.2% increase from the previous week. Hospital stays for COVID are actually going down, according to the CDC. Their wastewater tracking, as of June 6, also shows a low level of virus activity across the country. Still, experts believe this could shift in the next few months. Every summer since 2020 has brought a jump in COVID cases in the US, and the arrival of this new variant has many keeping an eye out for another rise. Also Read: COVID horror: Over 300 people in US still dying from coronavirus every week, Here's why Between May 25 and June 7, NB.1.8.1 was responsible for about 37% of COVID cases in the US, up from 15% in the previous two weeks. The top variant at the moment, LP.8.1, is causing 38% of infections. However, the CDC said its ability to track exact numbers is 'low' because not enough virus samples are being sequenced. The agency hasn't shared regional data yet, but according to sequences posted on the GISAID database, the Nimbus variant has been found in at least 14 states: • Arizona • California • Colorado • New Jersey • New York • Hawaii • Illinois • Maryland • Massachusetts • Ohio • Rhode Island • Vermont • Virginia • Washington Worldwide, the WHO said that as of May 18, NB.1.8.1 had been detected in at least 22 countries and made up about 10.7% of COVID cases. Experts believe the number of cases caused by this variant will likely continue to rise in the US, based on what's happening in other parts of the world. The virus behind COVID (SARS-CoV-2) keeps changing. These mutations sometimes help it spread faster or dodge immune protection from past infection or vaccines. Like other omicron descendants, NB.1.8.1 spreads quickly. It came from a mix of previous variants and has multiple spike protein mutations, which might help it latch onto human cells more effectively. A May study, though not peer-reviewed yet, said these changes could help it spread faster and possibly outcompete other variants in the future. Based on its makeup and how quickly it's spreading, it's likely that Nimbus is more transmissible than older versions of the virus—but experts say it's too soon to say exactly how it compares. So far, there's no sign that it causes worse symptoms than other variants. According to the WHO, the overall risk from this variant is still considered 'low.' It's not yet clear if NB.1.8.1 will become the dominant variant or cause a large summer spike, but experts say it's possible. 'It's hard to predict whether this variant or another will take off and cause a wave … but its likely that it won't be as severe as what we experienced before 2023,' Dr. Albert Ko, professor of public health, epidemiology and medicine at Yale School of Public Health, as cited by Today report. In the US, most people now have some level of immunity—either from a past infection or vaccination. It's estimated that about 90% of Americans have already been exposed to the virus. But immunity fades over time. 'The longer we get from the last surge or the last vaccination campaign, the more people are susceptible,' Andy Pekosz, Ph.D., professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, previously said. Add summer travel, big events, and a new variant like Nimbus, and conditions are right for more infections. According to the CDC, COVID tends to peak twice each year in the US—once in winter, and again during summer (June to August). But how big each wave is can vary. Based on past years, experts expect some increase this summer. 'We may see an upswing (this) summer as in previous years, and this is expected to be smaller compared to what we experience in the winter,' says Ko. Right now, symptoms from this variant appear similar to other recent omicron strains. These include: • Sore throat • Cough • Runny or stuffy nose • Trouble breathing • Fever or chills • Headache • Body aches • Fatigue • Loss of smell or taste Anyone can get sick from COVID, but older adults (especially those over 65), people with weakened immune systems, and those with underlying health issues are more likely to get very sick, according to the CDC. COVID vaccines still help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. With all the changes to vaccine guidance, you might be wondering if you need another dose. The CDC says the current 2024–2025 COVID vaccines are still available and are recommended for most adults 18 and up. 'Those in high-risk groups should consider getting the vaccine now if they haven't been vaccinated in the last six months and consider receiving an updated vaccine for the upcoming winter season,' says Ko. WHO also said the current COVID vaccines should still work against NB.1.8.1. The next round of vaccines for 2025–2026 will be geared toward the LP.8.1 variant and are expected in the fall. But US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently announced changes that might limit who can get these shots. Under the new guidelines, the upcoming vaccine will be offered only to adults 65 and older, and to those aged 12–64 with at least one medical condition. Routine COVID vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children or pregnant women by the CDC, though many doctors disagree. If you're unsure whether you should get the COVID shot, talk to your healthcare provider. To stay safe, health officials recommend testing when you feel sick, staying home when you're ill, masking in crowded indoor places, and social distancing. The government no longer mails out free test kits, but some free or low-cost tests are still available.
Daily Mirror
16-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'Razor blade throat' and other key signs of Nimbus COVID variant
The NB.1.8.1 variant may have some symptoms that other Covid strains don't cause The UK has reported cases of the new Covid variant, Nimbus or NB. 1.8.1, with a rise in Covid-related hospital admissions by almost 10% in the last week of May, following a warning from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Sufferers of the new variant have described a "razor blade throat" symptom. This reportedly feels like blades scratching the back of your throat every time you swallow. A very painful symptom and those suffering from it have been advised to get rest, fluids and painkillers to manage the condition. Dr Naveed Asif, a GP at The London General Practice, spoke to the Independent, highlighting this symptom as "distinctive" for Nimbus. The NHS is also recommending that anyone who suspects they may have Covid should isolate at home. The UKHSA has issued a warning about other symptoms too: "If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you should avoid contact with vulnerable people and stay at home if possible." Further advice on how to live with Covid, including what to do if unable to self-isolate, can be found on the website. First identified in January, Nimbus has been spreading globally and is now considered the dominant strain in China and accounts for a third of cases in the US. It is thought to be the driving factor behind a new surge of cases in Australia. A recent preprint study indicates that the Nimbus variant binds more efficiently to human cells. This may allow for easier transmission and raise the possibility of it bypassing the immunity that most of the population has gained from previous infections. The research surrounding Nimbus has yet to undergo peer review. However, it's worth noting that the WHO has stated that existing Covid vaccines are effective against this new strain. Salon reports there is no evidence at this stage suggesting that Nimbus leads to more severe illness than other Covid variants. Dr. T. Ryan Gregory, a researcher from the University of Guelph in Canada, expressed caution to the publication: "That said, we learned from Omicron that high transmissibility can cause as much damage as high per infection virulence and at this point it is not just acute severity that is of concern, but longer-term impacts of repeated infection." He went on to explain to Salon that identifying specific symptoms unique to the Nimbus variant could be challenging due to the presence of multiple variants and that testing levels are presently lower than they were during peak periods of the pandemic. Last week, Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA deputy director, announced: "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 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."
