NB.1.8.1 COVID Variant: Symptoms & What to Know
The NB.1.8.1 variant of COVID-19 is spreading, raising concerns with its “razor blade throat” symptom, reported by some patients. This new variant, derived from Omicron, has been detected in several states including New York and California; public health experts advise no immediate alarm. They recommend preventative measures, including vaccination, hygiene practices, and ventilation to reduce the spread.High-risk individuals should receive their COVID-19 vaccine twice a year, according to the CDC.News Directory 3 provides vital information, including expert insights and recommendations for staying safe. Discover what’s next in the ongoing fight against this virus.
New COVID-19 Variant Spreads: Symptoms and Prevention Tips
Updated June 19,2025
A new COVID-19 variant,known as NB.1.8.1, is circulating, with some patients reporting severe sore throat symptoms. Some have nicknamed it “razor blade throat” as of the pain.
The NB.1.8.1 variant, derived from the XVD.1.5.1 recombinant, a descendant of Omicron, has been detected in several states, including New York, Illinois, Texas, and California, according to data from Gisaid, a global genome sequencing database.
While the variant is spreading, public health experts say there is no cause for alarm, as it does not appear more severe than previous strains. They recommend several preventative measures.
High-risk individuals should receive a COVID-19 vaccine twice a year,as advised by the CDC. the CDC also recommends that adults 18 and older receive an updated 2024-2025 vaccine. Parents with children between 6 months and 17 years should discuss the benefits of vaccination with their health care provider.
William Schaffner, a public health expert, suggests that as COVID-19 cases tend to increase in late summer and early fall, people should consider opening windows for better ventilation, wearing masks when appropriate, and avoiding crowded places.
According to Dr. Patel, practicing good hygiene, such as frequent hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes, is essential. He also advises testing if symptoms appear, noting that over-the-counter rapid tests are effective.
Patel said, “Getting infected with COVID and other infectious diseases is not necessarily life or death, but it can still be very debilitating. it can cause people to miss work, to spread the virus, to get people who are higher risk sick and there’s still an untold amount of people who have long COVID.”
Patel added, “So, we don’t want to look at COVID as just another common cold, because there’s still so much we’re learning about it, and there’s still so many possibilities with this virus continuing to mutate, if we let it.”
What’s next
Health officials continue to monitor the NB.1.8.1 variant and emphasize the importance of staying informed and taking preventive measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19.