JAKARTA - A new variant of COVID-19 spreads rapidly. This variant of bari is known as NB.1.8.1, which has been detected, especially in the United States. Although it is too early to confirm whether this variant will cause a spike in cases in the summer, its growth in various parts of the world has made health officials continue to monitor closely.
Reporting from the Health page, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified NB.1.8.1 as a variant under monitoring (the variant being monitored).
NB.1.8.1 was first detected at the end of January 2025 and is a derivative of the Omicron JN.1 lineage. In recent weeks, global cases caused by this variant have increased sharply.
The latest WHO data shows that NB.1.8.1 accounts for 10.7% of the entire global COVID-19 genome sequence between April 21 and 27, up from only 2.5% in the previous month.
According to Dr. Shira Doron, the head of infection control in Tufts Medicine, NB.1.8.1 is genetically different from the current dominant variant in the US, namely LP.8.1.
This difference is important because NB.1.8.1 does not come from the common 'subvariant soup' in the US in recent years.
However, the new variants of Omicron seem to continue to evolve to become more and more similar to each other, making it likely to shift greatly in the character of the disease declining.
In the US, only less than 20 sequences of NB.1.8.1 genomes have been identified, according to a CDC spokesman. However, this variant has been found in international travelers at airports in California, Washington, Virginia, and New York City.
Globally, this variant has spread rapidly in China and Hong Kong. As of May 28, NB.1.8.1 has been found in 22 countries.
Experts agree that the symptoms of NB.1.8.1 are similar to other COVID-19 infections.
"COVID is still COVID," said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
He added that there is nothing too distinct in symptoms between these new variants, except for early variants that are more likely to lead to hospitalization.
Symptoms that may arise include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
-Nose stuffy
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhea
The good news is, NB.1.8.1 does not appear to cause more severe disease than the previous variant.
Although NB.1.8.1 currently only contributes a small part of the cases in the US, experts remain vigilant. This variant carries six mutations to the spike protein, which can make it easier to spread and avoid antibodies.
According to Dr. Amy Edwards, infectious disease specialist from Case Western Reserve University, preliminary data suggest NB.1.8.1 is likely to be slightly more contagious. However, a summer spike is still possible, either due to NB.1.8.1 or other variants.
Dr. Schaffner explained that unlike seasonal flu which tends to peak once in winter, COVID-19 has experienced two spikes in recent years: one in summer and the other in winter.
Despite having many mutations, Dr. Doron emphasized that mutation alone is not enough to trigger a major spike.
Experts believe that immunity from previous vaccines or previous infections can still provide protection against NB.1.8.1.
New Boosters from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are being developed and are expected to be available at the start of fall. Preliminary data show that this vaccine is likely to work well against NB.1.8.1 as well as other common variants.
However, it is not clear which type of vaccine will be recommended by the FDA, according to Dr. Edwards. So for now, the effectiveness of the vaccine against NB.1.8.1 is still not fully certain.
Although NB.1.8.1 has not raised major concerns among experts, preventive measures remain important, especially for the elderly, people with a weak immune system, or those with fundamental health conditions.
COVID belum hilang. Masih ada sekitar 300 kematian per week di seluruh AS. Ini tetap infeksi yang signifikan, terutama bagi kelompok risiko tinggi," kata Dr. Schaffner.
Even though the booster is not yet available, Dr. Doron did not expect NB.1.8.1 will have a major impact on the trajectory of the COVID pandemic as a whole.
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However, to lower the risk, Dr. Edwards suggests the following steps:
- Diligently washing hands
- Wear a mask and stay at home when you feel sick
- Cough Ethics and good sneezing (at elbows)
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