Highly Transmissible COVID-19 Variant NB.1.8.1 Found In US: All You Need To Know

A new and highly contagious variant of COVID-19, linked to a major surge in hospitalisation in China, has been detected across multiple locations in the United States, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The NB.1.81 variant was detected in the country for the first time in late March and early April. Those found positive were international travellers, who arrived at airports in California, Washington State, Virginia and New York. Since then, additional cases have come up in Ohio, Rhode Island and Hawaii, the New York Post reported.

However, the new COVID-19 variant, first detected in China in January this year, has still not spread significantly in the US, according to the CDC.

Till May 27, less than 20 cases of the NB.1.81 variant have been detected in the US, a USA Today reported mentioned, quoting a CDC spokesperson.

The official added that the number is too low to be recorded into its COVID Data Tracker dashboard.

The World Health Organization (WHO), on May 23, classified NB.1.8.1 as a variant that may require "prioritised attention and monitoring".

Earlier, a CDC official stated that it was aware of the new COVID-19 variant cases in China and was in "regular contact with international partners".

Although the number is less in the US, health experts have raised concerns over the hospitalisations and rapid increase in cases abroad, especially in China and parts of Asia.

In Hong Kong, authorities have cases that cases of COVID-19 have reached the worst levels in at least a year. This came after officials declared a "significant" jump in hospitalisations and in emergency room visits due to the spread of the new variant during the past one month, according to New York Post.

Among these include 81 severe cases and 30 deaths in four weeks’ time, with the majority of them being 65 and above adults. 

As per state-run China Daily, the overall percentage of patients going to emergency room after testing COVID-19 positive have more than double in a month's time and reached over 16% than 7.5% earlier.

Similarly, there has been an increase in people in hospitals for COVID-19 in China (over 6% now).

Despite the surge, authorities in the country have insisted that NB.1.81 variant is not more dangerous than earlier strains.

Subhash Verma, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Nevada, told CBS News that the new variant of COVID-19 has shown up symptoms that are "broadly similar to those seen in earlier strains of the virus".

Dubbing it as a "slightly upgraded version" of the LP.8.1 variant, Verma suggested that data so far has indicated that it does not lead to more severe illness compared to the earlier variants. However, it seems to have a "growth advantage," which means that it can spread more easily, he added.

In simple terms, the NB.1.81 variant is more transmissible.

Some of the most common COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, congestion or a runny nose, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, headache among others.