Fri Jun 20 10:40:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**New COVID Variant NB.1.8.1 Spreading in U.S., Some Report “Razor Blade Throat”**

A new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, is gaining traction across the United States, prompting some to report unusually painful sore throats, likened to having “razor blades” in their throat. Designated as a variant under monitoring by the World Health Organization (WHO), NB.1.8.1, also nicknamed “Nimbus,” currently accounts for an estimated 37% of cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is second most dominant variant in the U.S.

Data from GISAID shows that the variant has been detected in several states, including New York, Illinois, Texas, and California. Public health experts are not yet overly concerned, stating that the virus does not appear to be more severe than previous strains, and there are steps individuals can take to protect themselves.

According to Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, NB.1.8.1 appears to be more transmissible due to changes in its spike protein, allowing it to attach more easily to cells. However, current data suggests it is not causing a significant increase in hospitalizations.

While some individuals are experiencing severe sore throats, experts are unsure if this is a distinct symptom of NB.1.8.1 or simply a symptom people are talking about. “We know that sore throat is reported by about 70% of patients now with COVID, so it’s not unusual,” said Chin-Hong.

Health officials emphasize that high-risk individuals should remain vigilant and receive updated COVID-19 vaccines twice a year. The CDC recommends that most adults aged 18 and older receive an updated 2024-2025 vaccine, and parents of children between 6 months and 17 years should discuss the benefits of vaccination with a health care provider.

In addition to vaccination, experts recommend practicing good hygiene, such as frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and sneezes, increasing ventilation by opening windows, and considering wearing a mask in crowded settings. Testing is also advised if symptoms develop.

“Getting infected with COVID and other infectious diseases is not necessarily life or death, but it can still be very debilitating,” said Dr. Alok Patel, a pediatrician at Stanford Children’s Health. “We don’t want to look at COVID as just another common cold, because there’s still so much we’re learning about it.”

Read More