New COVID variant linked to painful ‘razor blade throat' symptom

As summer brings another rise in COVID-19 infections, patients across Asia, Europe and North America are reporting a searing sore throat so intense it has earned a dramatic nickname: ' razor blade throat.'
Though not a new symptom, the phenomenon has gained fresh attention amid the spread of a fast-moving Omicron subvariant, formally known as NB.1.8.1 and colloquially as 'Nimbus.'
Patients in China and elsewhere describe the pain as akin to 'swallowing shattered glass,' with some saying they've been left unable to speak, eat, or even stay hydrated.
'Post-COVID razor blade throat is brutal — swollen, painful, and I can barely speak,' one user wrote on Weibo, China's leading social media platform, according to Chinese-language media. Another said, 'I've been hit with razor blade throat and feel completely drained.'
Despite the visceral nickname, health experts emphasize that the symptom is not unique to this latest wave.
'Sore throat is a common symptom of COVID and not novel at all, and not associated with any one variant, including NB.1.8.1,' said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF. 'There has been a range of intensity of sore throat with COVID symptoms all along, including very severe pain.'
He noted that up to 70% of people infected with COVID-19 report a sore throat. Other common symptoms include fatigue, mild cough, fever, muscle aches, and congestion — all consistent with earlier strains of the virus.
'Current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation,' according to the World Health Organization, which last month designated NB.1.8.1 as a SARS-CoV-2 ' variant under monitoring.'
The agency noted, however, that the subvariant appears more immune-evasive than the dominant LP.8.1 lineage.
In China, where the current wave began in March, cases are expected to peak by late June. The NB.1.8.1 variant has since been detected in over 20 countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, with early outbreaks noted in California, Washington and New York.
Last month, an average of about 250 people died each week from COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Doctors continue to urge the public to stay up to date on vaccinations and take precautions, especially those in high-risk groups.
'To me, it is a reminder that even if you don't end up in urgent care or in the hospital, COVID can still make you very sick in 2025,' Chin-Hong said. 'As the summer approaches, we will likely see another wave of infections, likely fueled by variants like NB.1.8.1. Wastewater is already showing a bump in some areas in California and the US.'
With COVID-19 expected to remain a persistent — if more manageable — presence, health officials continue to emphasize a familiar message: masks, handwashing, vaccination, and staying home when sick remain the best defense, razor blade throat or not.
For those experiencing severe throat pain, Chin-Hong recommends over-the-counter treatments like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

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