A new, highly infectious strain of COVID-19, designated NB.1.8.1, which has been linked to a surge in hospitalizations in China, has now been detected in the United States, including cases in New York City, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The NB.1.8.1 variant was initially identified in the US in late March and early April among international travelers arriving at airports in California, Washington State, Virginia, and New York City. Subsequently, additional cases have been reported in Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii.
The CDC has indicated that the number of US cases is currently too low for inclusion in the agency’s variant estimates. However, infectious disease experts caution that the variant’s rapid spread in China suggests it is more transmissible than other dominant strains of the respiratory virus. Experts have been closely monitoring the NB.1.8.1 variant after it became the prevalent strain in China earlier this year, leading to a rise in cases across Asia.
Health authorities in Hong Kong have reported a spike in COVID-19 cases to their highest levels in at least a year, following an official announcement of a “significant increase” in emergency room visits and hospitalizations attributed to the variant in the past month. This surge included 81 severe cases and 30 deaths over the preceding four weeks, with the majority of these cases occurring in adults aged 65 and older.
In mainland China, the proportion of patients seeking emergency room care for COVID-19 has more than doubled in the last month, increasing from 7.5% to over 16%, according to public health authorities. The percentage of individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 in China has also doubled, reaching over 6%, as reported by the state-run China Daily. Despite these statistics, the government in Hong Kong has downplayed the severity of the variant, stating that it does not appear to be more dangerous than previous strains.
Dr. Amy Edwards, a professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University’s medical school, told CBS News, “What they’re seeing in China, Hong Kong and some other areas where this variant has really surged, is an increase in hospitalization.”
CDC airport surveillance revealed the variant’s international spread as infected travelers had transit connections through China, Japan, South Korea, France, Thailand, the Netherlands, Spain, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Similar to other forms of COVID-19, the NB.1.8.1 variant can cause symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, fever, and fatigue.
Dr. Subhash Verma, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Nevada, noted that the new variant “appears to have a growth advantage, suggesting it may spread more easily.” She told CBS News, “In other words, it is more transmissible.” Both Dr. Verma and Dr. Edwards indicated that the strain does not appear to be more severe than previous variants, at least based on current data.
Dr. Edwin Tsui, the head of Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP), cautioned that the new variant “should not be taken lightly,” suggesting to health officials in China and globally that evidence indicates the virus may have further evolved to evade the protection offered by current COVID-19 vaccines. In a statement, Dr. Tsui said, “The CHP will continue to closely monitor the situation of the variant strains in accordance with the World Health Organization’s recommendation, and be cautious of the possible emergence of more virulent or vaccine-mismatched strains of the virus in the future.”
This warning coincides with the Trump administration’s recent announcement of a plan to limit annual COVID-19 booster vaccines to seniors and other high-risk groups. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated on Tuesday that it will no longer recommend that healthy children and pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
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