WHO on alert over new COVID variant that has caused a surge in cases: here are the symptoms

This isn’t recycled news—there’s a new COVID variant, and it’s making waves. It’s causing high fever spikes in adults, even among those who are vaccinated or previously infected, along with fatigue, chills, weakness, coughing, sneezing, and runny noses. It’s a familiar pattern, but that doesn’t make it any less serious. In most cases, symptoms last three to five days.

Lara Herrero, professor and research leader in Virology and Infectious Diseases at Griffith University, says that due to its numerous mutations, this new strain may be more efficient at infecting cells than earlier variants.

Professor Herrero explains: “a person infected with NB.1.8.1 may be more likely to pass the virus on to someone else, compared to earlier variants. The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data,“ she emphasizes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to stay alert and monitor the evolution of new variants closely to avoid overwhelming healthcare systems. The agency also continues to recommend keeping up with appropriate vaccination schedules, as outlined in its May 28 health bulletin.

Symptoms of the NB.1.8.1 COVID Variant:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion or runny nose
• Recent loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

The new strain was first identified in January and is a subvariant of Omicron. It was initially detected on January 22, 2025, in Egypt, Thailand, and the Maldives.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also identified NB.1.8.1 in several states, including New York, California, Arizona, Ohio, Washington, and Rhode Island.

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