'Razor Throat': Nimbus COVID Symptoms To Watch For As New Variant Rises
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A new COVID-19 variant spreading across the United States may cause an extremely painful sore throat—dubbed the "razor throat"—among its symptoms.
The new "Nimbus" strain, also known as COVID-19 NB 1.8.1, was first detected in China in January, and was classified as a variant "under monitoring" by the World Health Organization (WHO) in May.
NB 1.8.1 has been reported in a number of US states—including California and New York—with reports of the variant increasing globally.
NB 1.8.1 made up a whopping 37 percent of all reported COVID-19 diagnoses between May 25 and June 7, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This is a significant increase since late May, when a CDC spokesperson told Newsweek that there had so far 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."
Stock image of a man holding his painful throat, and inset, illustration of a COVID-19 mutation.
Stock image of a man holding his painful throat, and inset, illustration of a COVID-19 mutation.
Liubomyr Vorona / peterschreiber.media/Getty Images
Omicron LP.8.1 remains the most commonly reported Covid variant at present, but its share of 38 percent of all cases places NB 1.8.1 at a close second.
For comparison's sake, the CDC listed LP.8.1 as making up 70 percent of reported cases between April 26 and May 10, mere weeks ago.
Reports from Chinese media via the LA Times indicate that symptoms of "razor throat" and coughing appear more prevalent with the new strain that is predecessors.
According to the CDC but the following symptoms are common with COVID-19 in general:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath
Sore throat
Congestion, runny nose
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Read more
COVID-19 NB 18.1 variant: Symptoms to watch for as virus surges
COVID-19 NB 18.1 variant: Symptoms to watch for as virus surges
Infectious disease expert and CEO of Wellness and Equity Alliance, Dr. Tyler B Evans, previously told Newsweek that there was "no clear evidence that this subvariant presents dramatically different symptoms from other recent strains.
"We're still seeing common indicators like sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, and cough," he said.
"In some cases, especially among unvaccinated or immunocompromised individuals, symptoms can escalate to more severe respiratory distress."
Newsweek has contacted the CDC for comment.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about medicine? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
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