• COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, nicknamed "razor blade throat," may cause severe sore throats.
• Experts report no increased severity compared to previous variants.
• Vaccine effectiveness against this variant remains intact.
• Current spread is primarily seen in the eastern Mediterranean and parts of Asia.
• The WHO considers the public health risk low for the variant.

The COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, also known as “Nimbus,” is associated with painful sore throats, leading to its nickname "razor blade throat." This symptom has been reported by medical professionals in the United Kingdom, India, and elsewhere. Other common symptoms of COVID-19 variants include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell, according to SCMP and ABC News.

Current data indicates that this variant is increasing its presence globally, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the western Pacific. By mid-May, it represented nearly 11% of sequenced samples worldwide. In the U.S., airport screenings have identified the variant in travelers from these regions, as reported by SCMP and Africanews.

Despite the rise in cases, health experts convey that there is not a major cause for concern, as the severity of the disease caused by Nimbus does not appear to exceed that of earlier variants. Both ABC News and Africanews report that the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Nimbus as a “variant under monitoring” but considers the overall public health risk to be low.

Vaccines are expected to remain effective against this variant. Health officials stress that vaccination continues to be an important measure for public health, especially as the variant is quite transmissible, potentially affecting individuals' experiences with infections. The current symptoms include a wide range of respiratory issues consistent with COVID-19, as highlighted by both SCMP and ABC News.