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yesterday

Global NB.1.8.1 COVID-19 Variant Triggers U.S. Vaccine Access Limits

WHO labels it a variant under monitoring, prompting regulators to narrow updated vaccine authorizations following surges in China, Hong Kong.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Passengers walk through the terminal at San Francisco International Airport. Stanford researchers have detected the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 in international travelers screened at airports in several states, including California.

Overview

  • The World Health Organization designated NB.1.8.1 as a variant under monitoring after its detection in at least 22 countries, with fewer than 20 cases confirmed in the United States.
  • Health experts report that NB.1.8.1 spreads more rapidly than earlier Omicron subvariants while causing similar symptoms and no evidence of increased severity.
  • China and Hong Kong have seen pronounced rises in emergency room visits and hospital admissions, with Hong Kong recording its highest COVID-19 burden in over a year.
  • Dr. Amy Edwards and other public health specialists are urging people to wear masks in crowded or indoor settings and to stay home when experiencing symptoms.
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will limit updated COVID-19 vaccine approvals to seniors and people with underlying medical conditions, and the CDC has removed routine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women.