A new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1

[noumoe]

A new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1 (nicknamed "razor blade throat" due to severe sore throat reports), detected in multiple U.S. states via GISAID data.

Classified as a "variant under monitoring" by the WHO, it accounts for 37% of U.S. cases as of June 7, 2025, per CDC estimates, with enhanced transmissibility linked to spike protein mutations.

However, experts note it doesn’t appear more severe than past variants, with hospitalization rates stable. Sore throats are a common COVID symptom (70% of cases historically), suggesting the "razor blade" label may be anecdotal rather than a distinct trait.

https://t.co/zCrVIrZeKe