Latest news with #variant
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
The new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 is driving infections in Australia. A virologist explains what you need to know
As we enter the colder months in Australia, Covid is making headlines again, this time due to the emergence of a new variant: NB.1.8.1. Last week, the World Health Organization designated NB.1.8.1 as a 'variant under monitoring', owing to its growing global spread and some notable characteristics which could set it apart from earlier variants. So what do you need to know about this new variant? More than five years since Covid was initially declared a pandemic, we're still experiencing regular waves of infections. It is more difficult to track the occurrence of the virus nowadays, as fewer people are testing and reporting infections. But available data suggests in late May 2025 case numbers in Australia were ticking upwards. Genomic sequencing has confirmed NB.1.8.1 is among the circulating strains in Australia, and generally increasing. Of cases sequenced up to 6 May across Australia, NB.1.8.1 ranged from less than 10% in South Australia to more than 40% in Victoria. Wastewater surveillance in Western Australia has determined NB.1.8.1 is now the dominant variant in wastewater samples collected in Perth. Internationally NB.1.8.1 is also growing. By late April 2025, it comprised roughly 10.7% of all submitted sequences – up from just 2.5% four weeks prior. While the absolute number of cases sequenced was still modest, this consistent upward trend has prompted closer monitoring by international public health agencies. NB.1.8.1 has been spreading particularly in Asia – it was the dominant variant in Hong Kong and China at the end of April. According to the WHO, NB.1.8.1 was first detected from samples collected in January 2025. It is a sublineage of the Omicron variant, descending from the recombinant XDV lineage. 'Recombinant' is where a new variant arises from the genetic mixing of two or more existing variants. Like its predecessors, NB.1.8.1 carries mutations in the spike protein. This is the protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to infect us – specifically via the ACE2 receptors, a 'doorway' to our cells. The mutations include T22N, F59S, G184S, A435S, V445H, and T478I. It's early days for this variant, so we don't have much data on what these changes mean yet. But a recent preprint (a study that has not yet been peer-reviewed) offers some clues about why NB.1.8.1 may be gathering traction. Using lab-based models, researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested – suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains. The study also looked at how well antibodies from vaccinated or previously infected people could neutralise or 'block' the variant. Results showed the neutralising response of antibodies was around 1.5 times lower to NB.1.8.1 compared with another recent variant, LP.8.1.1. This means it's possible a person infected with NB.1.8.1 may be more likely to pass the virus on to someone else, compared with earlier variants. 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 with other variants. Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants. Common symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases. There's potential for this variant to play a significant role in Australia's winter respiratory season. Public health responses remain focused on close monitoring, continued genomic sequencing and promoting the uptake of updated Covid boosters. Even if neutralising antibody levels are modestly reduced against NB.1.8.1, the WHO has noted current Covid vaccines should still protect against severe disease with this variant. The most recent booster available in Australia and many other countries targets JN.1, from which NB.1.8.1 is descended. So it makes sense it should still offer good protection. Ahead of winter and with a new variant on the scene, now may be a good time to consider another Covid booster if you're eligible. For some people, particularly those who are medically vulnerable, Covid can still be a serious disease. Laro Herrero is an associate professor and research leader in virology and infectious disease at Griffith University
ABC News
2 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
New COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 'pretty much everywhere' in Australia
Australians are being urged to get their COVID-19 booster as a new coronavirus variant drives up infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the new NB.1.8.1 strain as a "variant under monitoring" and it's now the dominant variant in China and Hong Kong. Griffith University virologist Associate Professor Lara Herrero said the new strain could possibly overtake others in Australia too. "The new strain is now the dominant coronavirus strain in China and Hong Kong and, in Australia, we're seeing it pretty much everywhere. "There is a prediction that this might start taking over other strains, but it's early days, so we'll just wait and see." Currently the new variant makes up more than 40 per cent of total COVID cases tested in Victoria, around 25 per cent in Western Australia and New South Wales, around 20 per cent in Queensland and less than 10 per cent in South Australia. "We're seeing a lot of cases in the community coming through the [emergency department] but it's likely we're heavily under-reporting because COVID reporting is no longer mandatory," Dr Herrero said. More than five years since COVID was declared a pandemic, Australia is still experiencing regular infections and Dr Herrero said case numbers had been slowly rising since May. In the past six months, only 6.6 per cent of adults have received a COVID vaccine, according to federal data. "This new strain is a sublineage of Omicron and descends from the JN1 variant, which is what the current vaccine protects against," she said. "The flu is nasty this season too so I'd very strongly recommend everyone get their yearly flu vaccine and JN1 COVID booster — it's the best way you're going to be protected if you haven't had COVID in the last six months. "As the virus mutates, it gets a little sneakier and better at evading our immune response and antibodies. Australian Medical Association NSW chair of public health Dr Michael Bonning said early reports showed the variant had a higher infection rate, but that existing vaccines were still effective. "Individual variants are probably less important than overall societal factors such as whether people are keeping up to date with boosters," he said. Dr Bonning said respiratory infections were up nationally. "We are expecting a spike in cases over the coming weeks with an expectation of a particularly difficult winter respiratory season because of what we have seen in the northern hemisphere," he said. "In New South Wales, in the past week there was an increase of 29.2 per cent in COVID-19 notifications, an increase of 25.9 per cent in influenza notifications, and an increase of 9.7 per cent in RSV notifications." According to WHO, NB.1.8.1 was first detected in January. It was declared a variant under monitoring earlier this month. "That is not done with every variant — not at all — it's ones that have specific mutations or if we have extra data that it might evade the immune system or transmit better," Dr Herrero said. "In this case, we've got mutations in the spike protein that seems to be making it easier for this virus to attach to our cells and it seems to be making this virus evade our antibodies better." Dr Herraro said there was no evidence to suggest the symptoms of the new strain were worse than other variants. "We're still seeing the same symptoms like fevers, cough, runny nose, headaches, some people are getting whole body aches and some are getting gastro symptoms," she said. "We're probably all getting tired of these sorts of messages but I'd just say to people, just be vigilant before you get sick because that's how you protect yourself. "Wash your hands, don't go out in public if you're sick and spread it to everyone, get your vaccines if you want them. If you've got a cough or cold I'd wear a mask because you don't want to share that with other people."
SBS Australia
3 days ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
A new COVID variant is driving up infections in Australia. Here's what to know about NB.1.8.1
As we enter the colder months in Australia, COVID is making headlines again, this time due to the emergence of a new variant: NB.1.8.1. Last week, the World Health Organization designated NB.1.8.1 as a "variant under monitoring", owing to its growing global spread and some notable characteristics which could set it apart from earlier variants. So, what do you need to know about this new variant? More than five years since COVID was initially declared a pandemic, we're still experiencing regular waves of infections. It's more difficult to track the occurrence of the virus nowadays, as fewer people are testing and reporting infections. But available data suggests in late May 2025, case numbers in Australia were ticking upwards. Genomic sequencing has confirmed NB.1.8.1 is among the circulating strains in Australia, and generally increasing. Of cases sequenced up to 6 May across Australia, NB.1.8.1 ranged from less than 10 per cent in South Australia to more than 40 per cent in Victoria. Wastewater surveillance in Western Australia has determined NB.1.8.1 is now the dominant variant in wastewater samples collected in Perth. Internationally NB.1.8.1 is also growing. By late April 2025, it comprised roughly 10.7 per cent of all submitted sequences — up from just 2.5 per cent four weeks prior. While the absolute number of cases sequenced was still modest, this consistent upward trend has prompted closer monitoring by international public health agencies. NB.1.8.1 has been spreading particularly in Asia — it was the dominant variant in Hong Kong and China at the end of April. According to the WHO, NB.1.8.1 was first detected from samples collected in January 2025. It's a sublineage of the Omicron variant, descending from the recombinant XDV lineage. "Recombinant" is where a new variant arises from the genetic mixing of two or more existing variants. The image to the right shows more specifically how NB.1.8.1 came about. Like its predecessors, NB.1.8.1 carries a suite of mutations in the spike protein. This is the protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to infect us – specifically via the ACE2 receptors, a "doorway" to our cells. The mutations include T22N, F59S, G184S, A435S, V445H, and T478I. It's early days for this variant, so we don't have much data on what these changes mean yet. But a recent preprint (a study that has not yet been peer-reviewed) offers some clues about why NB.1.8.1 may be gathering traction. Using lab-based models, researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested — suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains. The study also looked at how well antibodies from vaccinated or previously infected people could neutralise or "block" the variant. Results showed the neutralising response of antibodies was around 1.5 times lower to NB.1.8.1 compared to another recent variant, LP.8.1.1. This means it's possible a person infected with NB.1.8.1 may be more likely to pass the virus on to someone else, compared to earlier variants. 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. Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants. Common symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases. There's potential for this variant to play a significant role in Australia's winter respiratory season. Public health responses remain focused on close monitoring, continued genomic sequencing, and promoting the uptake of updated COVID boosters. Even if neutralising antibody levels are modestly reduced against NB.1.8.1, the WHO has noted current COVID vaccines should still protect against severe disease with this variant. The most recent booster available in Australia and many other countries targets JN.1, from which NB.1.8.1 is descended. So it makes sense that it should still offer good protection. Ahead of winter and with a new variant on the scene, now may be a good time to consider another COVID booster if you're eligible. For some people, particularly those who are medically vulnerable, COVID can still be a serious disease. Lara Herrero receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Health
- Gizmodo
A New Covid Variant Is Rising Fast. Here's What We Know About NB.1.8.1
As we enter the colder months in Australia, covid is making headlines again, this time due to the emergence of a new variant: NB.1.8.1. Last week, the World Health Organization designated NB.1.8.1 as a 'variant under monitoring', owing to its growing global spread and some notable characteristics which could set it apart from earlier variants. So what do you need to know about this new variant? The current covid situation More than five years since covid was initially declared a pandemic, we're still experiencing regular waves of infections. It's more difficult to track the occurrence of the virus nowadays, as fewer people are testing and reporting infections. But available data suggests in late May 2025, case numbers in Australia were ticking upwards. Genomic sequencing has confirmed NB.1.8.1 is among the circulating strains in Australia, and generally increasing. Of cases sequenced up to May 6 across Australia, NB.1.8.1 ranged from less than 10% in South Australia to more than 40% in Victoria. Wastewater surveillance in Western Australia has determined NB.1.8.1 is now the dominant variant in wastewater samples collected in Perth. Internationally NB.1.8.1 is also growing. By late April 2025, it comprised roughly 10.7% of all submitted sequences—up from just 2.5% four weeks prior. While the absolute number of cases sequenced was still modest, this consistent upward trend has prompted closer monitoring by international public health agencies. NB.1.8.1 has been spreading particularly in Asia—it was the dominant variant in Hong Kong and China at the end of April. Where does this variant come from? According to the WHO, NB.1.8.1 was first detected from samples collected in January 2025. It's a sublineage of the Omicron variant, descending from the recombinant XDV lineage. 'Recombinant' is where a new variant arises from the genetic mixing of two or more existing variants. What does the research say? Like its predecessors, NB.1.8.1 carries a suite of mutations in the spike protein. This is the protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to infect us—specifically via the ACE2 receptors, a 'doorway' to our cells. The mutations include T22N, F59S, G184S, A435S, V445H, and T478I. It's early days for this variant, so we don't have much data on what these changes mean yet. But a recent preprint (a study that has not yet been peer reviewed) offers some clues about why NB.1.8.1 may be gathering traction. Using lab-based models, researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested—suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains. The study also looked at how well antibodies from vaccinated or previously infected people could neutralise or 'block' the variant. Results showed the neutralising response of antibodies was around 1.5 times lower to NB.1.8.1 compared to another recent variant, LP.8.1.1. This means it's possible a person infected with NB.1.8.1 may be more likely to pass the virus on to someone else, compared to earlier variants. What are the symptoms? 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. Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants. Common symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches, and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases. How about the vaccine? There's potential for this variant to play a significant role in Australia's winter respiratory season. Public health responses remain focused on close monitoring, continued genomic sequencing, and promoting the uptake of updated covid boosters. Even if neutralising antibody levels are modestly reduced against NB.1.8.1, the WHO has noted current covid vaccines should still protect against severe disease with this variant. The most recent booster available in Australia and many other countries targets JN.1, from which NB.1.8.1 is descended. So it makes sense it should still offer good protection. Ahead of winter and with a new variant on the scene, now may be a good time to consider another covid booster if you're eligible. For some people, particularly those who are medically vulnerable, covid can still be a serious disease. Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Fox News
24-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
US sees cases of new COVID-19 variant linked to surge in China: report
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has detected multiple cases of the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, which has been linked to a spike in cases in China. A CDC spokesperson confirmed the findings to Fox News Digital, but said there had been too few cases for the strain to be included in the agency's COVID Data Tracker. "There have been fewer than 20 sequences of NB.1.8.1 in the U.S. baseline surveillance data to date, so it has not met the threshold for inclusion in the COVID Data Tracker dashboard," a CDC spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We monitor all SARS-CoV-2 sequences, and if it increases in proportion, it will appear on the Data Tracker dashboard." The cases were reportedly detected through the CDC's airport screening program, according to CBS News, though the CDC spokesperson did not confirm this to Fox News Digital. While the CDC has detected the new variant in the U.S., the agency also reported on May 23 that emergency room visits for influenza, COVID and RSV are currently "very low." In its two-week predictions for COVID and influenza, the CDC said it expects the number of ER visits will likely stay at the current low level. A CDC map showing COVID-19 cases detected through wastewater (sewage) testing indicates that most states are seeing either low or very low levels of the virus. The only state experiencing a high level of viral activity, according to CDC data, is South Dakota. The COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 variant has been linked to a high number of cases in China and Hong Kong. Earlier this month, Hong Kong authorities issued a statement urging the public — especially high-risk individuals — to wear surgical masks. However, the statement also noted that there is no evidence NB.1.8.1 is more serious than other COVID-19 variants.
