A new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, has been identified in several regions of the United States, raising concerns as it has been linked to a surge in infections in China. According to CBS News, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) detected the variant through its airport screening program, targeting international travelers arriving at airports in California, Washington, Virginia, and the New York City area. These findings were facilitated by Ginkgo Bioworks, a testing partner.
Genomic sequencing data submitted to the GISAID database revealed that infected travelers had recently arrived from a wide range of countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Thailand, the Netherlands, Spain, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The samples were collected between April 22 and May 12.
Beyond airport-based surveillance, local health departments in Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii have also reported cases of the NB.1.8.1 variant. The first known cases in the U.S. were recorded in late March in California and Washington.
NB.1.8.1 is currently the dominant strain in China and is making its way across parts of Asia. In Hong Kong, the variant has driven COVID-19 levels to their highest in a year, resulting in increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Although health officials there report no evidence that the variant is more severe than previous ones, they have advised the public to resume mask-wearing on public transportation.
In Taiwan, a rise in severe cases and deaths has led the government to ramp up its stockpile of vaccines and antiviral medications.
Preliminary studies from China suggest that while NB.1.8.1 does not seem more adept at evading immunity than earlier variants, it may be more transmissible due to stronger cell-binding properties.
At a recent advisory panel meeting hosted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna shared findings showing that their updated vaccines targeting the LP.8.1 variant may also offer protection against NB.1.8.1. The panel advised revising fall and winter vaccine formulations to target a JN.1 variant, although consensus on which exact lineage to choose varied.
Currently, the only variant showing significant growth in the U.S. is XFC, according to CBS. CDC officials report that the virus appears to be settling into a more seasonal pattern, with expected surges twice a year. National COVID-19 trends are presently declining, as indicated by emergency room data and wastewater monitoring.