New coronavirus variant gradually spreading worldwide in a small wave

It's the end of May 2025, and once again we have to report on the coronavirus. Is there real cause for concern? Not immediately, say experts. Still, it remains essential to keep monitoring the sudden emergence of this new variant, the World Health Organization also emphasises.

NB 1.8.1.—this is the name of a new coronavirus variant that has nevertheless managed to spread worldwide. It's a subvariant of Omicron that was first detected in China and Hong Kong, but has also been identified in the US, France, Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. And this new variant is certainly not harmless. The situation in Hong Kong proves this, as NB 1.8.1 has caused a significant outbreak there, including increasing hospital admissions and deaths.

The World Health Organization has classified this subvariant as a variant 'under monitoring', not as a 'variant of concern'. The variant closely resembles Omicron, but has undergone some changes, making it sometimes more transmissible and slightly better at evading antibodies.

(SR – Source: WHO – Photo: ©Unsplash)