Razor blade sore throat emerges as key symptom of new Covid strain
A new Covid-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, now dubbed 'Nimbus', rapidly spreading in several countries and is making headlines for a painful and distinctive symptom: a severely sore throat described by patients as feeling like "swallowing razor blades."This unusually intense throat pain is fast becoming an emerging symptom of the new strain, according to international reports.This symptom, being called the "razor blade throat", is affecting individuals across the US, a report by the Associated Press mentioned.advertisement
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has maintained that the variant does not currently pose a higher risk of severe illness compared to previous strains.People contracting a COVID-19 infection are reporting an unusually intense sore throat, described as feeling like swallowing razor blades, as per reports.WHAT IS THE NIMBUS VARIANT?The NB.1.8.1 variant, now nicknamed 'Nimbus', is part of the evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus family, which health authorities say is increasingly behaving like a seasonal virus, similar to the flu.However, Nimbus has garnered attention due to its unusual symptom profile and its rapid geographical spread in recent weeks.As of mid-May, the WHO reported that Nimbus accounted for nearly 11% of sequenced Covid-19 samples globally.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also confirmed that the variant had been detected through airport screenings of travelers arriving from Asia in states such as California, Virginia, New York, and Washington.advertisementIn India, INSACOG (the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium), identified four circulating variants in the country: LF.7, XFG, JN.1.16, and NB.1.8.1.OTHER SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FORBeyond the intense sore throat, common symptoms of the Nimbus variant continue to mirror those of earlier strains, including fever and chills, cough, headache, and shortness of breath.WHAT ARE INDIAN EXERTS SAYING?Cases in India have marginally decreased. As of June 20, the active Covid-19 caseload, stands at 5,608 cases, indicating a downward trend in infections despite the presence of new variants.According to the WHO, Nimbus is currently classified as low risk, with no evidence of increased severity or mortality and most patients are managing their symptoms via home isolation.
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