A new COVID-19 variant, referred to as “razor blade throat” COVID, is linked to a rise in cases in some areas. The variant, named NB.1.8.1 or “Nimbus,” is reportedly causing particularly painful sore throats. This symptom has been noted by healthcare professionals in the UK, India, and various other places.
Typical COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and changes in taste or smell remain common across variants.
Experts are advising that there’s no significant cause for alarm regarding the Nimbus variant, but here are some key points to consider.
Current spread of the ‘razor blade throat’ variant
According to the World Health Organization, the increase in cases observed late last month is mainly in areas like the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the western Pacific. By mid-May, this new variant accounted for nearly 11% of globally sequenced samples.
Screenings at airports in the United States have identified the variant among travelers coming from these affected regions, landing in California, Washington, Virginia, and New York.
Severity of illness from this variant
As of now, it seems that you aren’t likely to experience a more severe illness from this variant compared to others.
The WHO has noted some increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations in certain western Pacific regions, but there’s no current evidence to indicate that this variant causes a more serious disease than its predecessors.
Effectiveness of vaccines against the Nimbus variant
The answer is yes; vaccines still hold up against this variant.
The WHO has classified Nimbus as a “variant under monitoring” and sees the public health risk as low on a global scale. Existing vaccines are expected to remain effective.
Recently, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer advised for healthy children and pregnant women, a decision that has raised questions among public health experts.
