Serious fears as new COVID variant spreads rapidly

More than 5 years aft COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, cases of a caller version advancing crossed Australia are worrying wellness officials. 

The emergence of nan subvariant, NB. 1.8.1, portion of nan Omicron family of nan virus, has been recorded crossed aggregate states up of nan looming winter.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier this period designated NB.1.8.1 arsenic a "variant nether monitoring", owed to its dispersed crossed nations. It has led to hospitalisations for patients successful Hong Kong, mainland China and parts of nan US.

The NB.1.8.1 version is besides responsible down caller COVID-19 cases crossed Australia, according to Griffith University successful Queensland.

They ranged from little than 10 per cent of cases successful South Australia to much than 40 per cent successful Victoria, of those sequenced early this month.

Wastewater surveillance successful Western Australia has revealed NB.1.8.1 is now nan ascendant version successful samples taken successful Perth.

The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report says COVID-19 cases person now reached astatine "a mean level of activity", pinch early signs showing nan caller version driving a emergence successful infections.

Health Minister Mark Butler says Australians should guarantee their booster jabs are updated.

"I do encourage, peculiarly arsenic we caput into winter, for group to deliberation astir nan past clip they sewage a COVID vaccine," he told nan ABC today.

"If you are complete 75 you should person 1 if it's much than six months since you had your past booster. If you're 65 to 74, if it's much than 12 months. And for everyone other person a superior think."

What are nan origins of nan caller variant?

The WHO says NB.1.8.1 was first detected successful samples collected successful precocious January 2025.

It is simply a subvariant of nan immense Omicron family of nan virus, reports nan Conversation.

Common symptoms see sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, musculus aches and nasal congestion.

Gastrointestinal symptoms whitethorn besides hap successful immoderate cases.

The WHO has not yet observed immoderate grounds it causes much terrible illness compared pinch different variants, but it whitethorn dispersed much easy and resists erstwhile inoculations.

How effective is vaccine?

Current COVID-19 vaccines should protect group against superior conclusion from NB.1.8.1, according to nan WHO.

The astir caller booster disposable successful Australia targets JN.1, from which NB.1.8.1 is descended.

So it makes consciousness that it should still connection bully protection.

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