Latest news with #CovidVariant
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Painful symptom of latest Covid variant identified
The NB.1.8.1, or "Nimbus," Covid variant is now nearly the most prevalent omicron lineage tracked by the CDC. A notable symptom associated with Nimbus is an incredibly painful "razor blade throat," though other symptoms are typical of Covid infection. Experts state that despite its rapid spread, the Nimbus variant does not appear to be more severe than previous strains. The variant's quick transmissibility is attributed to genetic mutations that allow it to bind easily to human cells. The World Health Organization has designated Nimbus as a "variant under monitoring" and considers the global public health risk to be low, with current vaccines expected to remain effective.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Newest Covid variant causing ‘razor blade throat.' What to know
A new Covid variant spreading around the U.S. may come with an incredibly unfortunate symptom now commonly referred to as 'razor blade throat.' NB.1.8.1, which is also known as or 'Nimbus,' is now nearly the most prevalent omicron lineage tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the name implies, infection may lead to an incredibly painful sore throat, according to experts. Other symptoms, though, are more typical of a Covid infection, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and the loss of taste or smell. 'A 'razor blade throat' is a very descriptive term describing severe sore throat pain — as if their throat is covered with razor blades — (like) with various viral infections,' Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of the department of medicine and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in New York, told 'While not specific to Covid-19, this expression has been used to describe sore throat symptoms in some patients with the most recent Covid-19 variant,' he said. But although the new omicron variant may result in a painful infection, experts say that it does not appear to be more severe than others. 'Every time you get a new strain, it always is a little bit more transmissible than what came before it,' Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UCSF infectious disease specialist, told SFGATE. 'Just like a pop song is more catchy when it rises to the top of the charts. And this particular one, Nimbus, is not just proportionally higher right now in California, the speed at which it's rising in the charts is also high … but it's not more severe.' Just how virulent it is remains a topic of discussion. 'What sets NB.1.8.1 apart is how quickly it spreads,' explains Dr. Magdalena Sobieszczyk, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said in a statement. 'It has a genetic advantage: mutations that make it easy for it to bind to receptors on human cells. The mutations could allow NB.1.8.1 to spread faster and, therefore, infect more people.' The World Health Organization has designated Nimbus as a 'variant under monitoring,' and considers the public health risk low globally. Current vaccines are expected to remain effective. But the longevity of the availability of Covid vaccines in the U.S. remains murky. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said last month that shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. He has also removed members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel and replaced them with people who have been skeptical of Covid vaccines and mandates.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Newest Covid variant causing ‘razor blade throat.' What to know
A new Covid variant spreading around the U.S. may come with an incredibly unfortunate symptom now commonly referred to as 'razor blade throat.' NB.1.8.1, which is also known as or 'Nimbus,' is now nearly the most prevalent omicron lineage tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the name implies, infection may lead to an incredibly painful sore throat, according to experts. Other symptoms, though, are more typical of a Covid infection, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and the loss of taste or smell. 'A 'razor blade throat' is a very descriptive term describing severe sore throat pain — as if their throat is covered with razor blades — (like) with various viral infections,' Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of the department of medicine and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in New York, told 'While not specific to Covid-19, this expression has been used to describe sore throat symptoms in some patients with the most recent Covid-19 variant,' he said. But although the new omicron variant may result in a painful infection, experts say that it does not appear to be more severe than others. 'Every time you get a new strain, it always is a little bit more transmissible than what came before it,' Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UCSF infectious disease specialist, told SFGATE. 'Just like a pop song is more catchy when it rises to the top of the charts. And this particular one, Nimbus, is not just proportionally higher right now in California, the speed at which it's rising in the charts is also high … but it's not more severe.' Just how virulent it is remains a topic of discussion. 'What sets NB.1.8.1 apart is how quickly it spreads,' explains Dr. Magdalena Sobieszczyk, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said in a statement. 'It has a genetic advantage: mutations that make it easy for it to bind to receptors on human cells. The mutations could allow NB.1.8.1 to spread faster and, therefore, infect more people.' The World Health Organization has designated Nimbus as a 'variant under monitoring,' and considers the public health risk low globally. Current vaccines are expected to remain effective. But the longevity of the availability of Covid vaccines in the U.S. remains murky. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said last month that shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. He has also removed members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel and replaced them with people who have been skeptical of Covid vaccines and mandates.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
What's behind the global surge of new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 – and should you get vaccinated?
A new Covid variant, NB.1.8.1, is spreading across the world, with India and other countries in Asia reporting a surge in cases. In the UK, the Health Security Agency confirmed 13 cases of the variant in England in early June, while hospital admissions due to Covid have risen by almost 10 per cent. However, the true extent of the variant's spread remains uncertain, largely due to a significant reduction in Covid-19 testing compared to the peak of the global pandemic five years ago. What do we know about the variant NB.1.8.1? NB.1.8.1 stemmed from the Omicron variant and was first detected in January this year. It has quickly spread across China and Hong Kong, and has now been recorded in several states across the United States and Australia. By late April, NB.1.8.1 comprised about 10.7 per cent of submitted sequences globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This rose from just 2.5 per cent a month before. The WHO declared the NB.1.8.1 strain a 'variant under monitoring' on 23 May, which means scientists believe it could potentially affect the behaviour of the virus. Why has there been a surge in new cases? Lara Herrero, a virologist from Griffith University in Australia, suspects that NB.1.8.1 spreads more easily than other variants. 'Using lab-based models, researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested, suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains,' Dr Herrero wrote last month in The Conversation. Dr Chun Tang, GP at UK private healthcare centre Pall Mall Medical, said: 'NB.1.8.1 isn't too different from the Omicron variant, but it does have some tweaks to its spike protein, which might make it spread a bit more easily or slip past some of our existing immunity. 'That said, early signs suggest it doesn't seem to cause more serious illness, but of course, we're still learning more about it.' 'Its spread has been identified in around 22 countries,' said Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice. 'The WHO assesses the additional risk to the global public as currently low, and existing Covid-19 vaccines are considered effective in preventing severe disease.' However, the 'Nimbus' variant, as it has been dubbed, does appear to be more transmissible than previous strains, with notable increases reported in India, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, notes Dr Asif. What are the symptoms? Common symptoms of Nimbus include a severe sore throat, fatigue, mild cough, fever, muscle aches and congestion. It has also been reported that some patients have experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea. Healthcare experts have stressed, however, that there is no evidence that the new strain is more deadly or serious than previous variants, and that current Covid vaccines are expected to remain effective and protect anyone infected from severe illness. Should you get vaccinated? In the UK, the NHS advises that Covid vaccinations are currently unavailable to the public until the early winter roll out, and only to those who need extra protection from the virus. The NHS will get in touch to offer you the Covid vaccine if you are eligible.
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The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Did we learn the right lessons from the Covid pandemic? Join The Independent Debate
With a new Covid variant quietly gaining ground across the UK, questions are once again being asked about how prepared we really are – and whether the hard-won lessons of the pandemic are already fading from view. Dubbed NB.1.8.1, or 'Nimbus', the latest strain is now spreading internationally and has triggered a noticeable uptick in UK hospital admissions and confirmed cases. Though early data suggests it does not cause more severe illness than previous variants, GPs have flagged a distinctive symptom: a 'razor blade' sore throat described by some as intensely painful. The World Health Organisation says approved vaccines remain effective against Nimbus. But with cases up nearly 7 per cent in a week and hospitals seeing a 10 per cent rise in Covid-related admissions, some experts are urging renewed caution, particularly for vulnerable groups and the immunocompromised. Despite the uptick in cases, there's been little public discussion of precautions like mask-wearing, isolation or staying at home. With guidance now unclear and testing scaled back, many people aren't sure whether the old rules still apply – or if anyone expects them to. So what does this moment say about where we are now, and whether we've truly learned from the past? For some, the quieter response to the Nimbus variant reflects a more balanced, less reactive approach than the urgency of 2020. But others see it as a sign of fading vigilance, with mixed messaging, reduced isolation advice, and falling testing rates pointing to a country more complacent than prepared. Have we struck the right balance between vigilance and normality? Or are we at risk of repeating old mistakes? We want to hear from you. Did we learn the right lessons from the pandemic? Are we better equipped to live with Covid, or simply more resigned to it? All you have to do is sign up and register your details – then you can take part in the debate. You can also sign up by clicking 'log in' on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
