With a new strain of COVID-19 detected in the UK and numerous other countries, the virus is once again in the news over five years after the original outbreak. With confirmed instances in Wales and Northern Ireland, the novel strain, known as NB.1.8.1, currently causes slightly more than 10% of infections worldwide.
Although there is no proof that the new strain produces more severe symptoms, experts think it may be able to infect cells more effectively and induce gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, constipation, and diarrhoea.
The omicron variant was initially identified in January 2025 and has since expanded to various US states, Australia, and Thailand. It is also the prevalent variety in China and Hong Kong.
About 10.7% of all reported sequences contain the NB. 1.8.1, which the World Health Organisation has classified as a “variant under monitoring.”
A WHO spokesperson said: “SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, and between January and May 2025, there were shifts in global SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics. At the beginning of the year, the most prevalent variant tracked by WHO at the global level was XEC, followed by KP.3.1.1.
“In February, circulation of XEC began to decline while that of LP.8.1 increased, with the latter becoming the most detected variant in mid-March. Since mid-April, the circulation of LP.8.1 has been slightly declining as NB.1.8.1 is increasingly being detected.”
Although it initially surfaced in samples at the start of this year, the first recorded cases were recorded around the end of April, according to data from GISAID, a global database of the genetic sequences of the main viruses that cause diseases.
Which symptoms are present?
The WHO has not seen any indications that the severity of NB.1.8.1 has increased, despite research that suggests it may spread more readily than other variants.
“Data indicates that NB.1.8.1 does not lead to more severe illness compared to previous variants, although it appears to have a growth advantage, suggesting it may spread more easily,” Subhash Verma, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, told CBS News.
Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, and exhaustion, which are all consistent with normal Omicron subvariants. Thus far, incidents have been documented in Whales and Northern Ireland, as well as in well-known British tourist destinations abroad.
However, determining the actual number of infections has been more challenging due to the declining number of people testing positive for COVID-19.
It is anticipated that current COVID vaccinations will continue to be effective against this variation and shield affected individuals from serious illness.
