Fri Jun 20 10:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A new COVID-19 variant, nicknamed “razor blade throat” COVID due to its painful sore throat symptom, is being monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO). This variant, NB.1.8.1. or “Nimbus,” has been detected in several regions globally and is contributing to rising COVID-19 cases in some areas. While some Western Pacific countries have reported increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations, there’s nothing so far to suggest that the disease associated with the new variant is more severe compared to other variants. The WHO considers the public health risk low and expects current vaccines to remain effective. Separately, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent statement questioning the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women has drawn criticism from public health experts.

**News Article:**

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**New COVID Variant, “Razor Blade Throat” COVID, Under Watch; Experts Say Risk Remains Low**

GENEVA (AP) – A newly identified COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1., nicknamed “razor blade throat” COVID due to reports of painful sore throats, is being closely monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO). The variant, also known as “Nimbus,” has been identified in the United Kingdom, India, and other regions, and is contributing to a rise in COVID-19 cases primarily in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and western Pacific regions.

According to the WHO, the Nimbus variant reached nearly 11% of sequenced samples reported globally in mid-May. Airport screening in the United States has detected the variant in travelers arriving from impacted regions in destinations like California, Washington state, Virginia, and New York.

While some Western Pacific countries have reported an increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations, the WHO emphasizes that there is no evidence to suggest that this variant causes more severe illness compared to previous strains.

The WHO has designated Nimbus as a “variant under monitoring” and currently assesses the public health risk as low at the global level. Experts believe that existing COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against the new variant.

The emergence of the Nimbus variant comes amidst controversy surrounding recent remarks by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who questioned the current recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women. This statement has been immediately challenged by leading public health experts.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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