New COVID-19 Variant Expected to Rise Across Europe

Officials in the European Union have warned that a new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, is likely to increase in prevalence across the EU in the coming weeks. According to a statement from the EU health body on June 13, while no clinical studies are currently available on the variant’s impact on vaccine effectiveness, early laboratory studies suggest no significant reduction in protection against severe disease. Currently, NB.1.8.1 is circulating at low levels in the EU and European Economic Area, but its spread is expected to rise.
In the United States, the variant was the second most prevalent strain between May 25 and June 7, just one percentage point behind LP.8.1. Earlier in May, it was not being tracked in the U.S. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has classified NB.1.8.1 as a "variant under monitoring" due to its rapid spread in parts of Asia, though it does not appear to cause more severe illness than other strains.
Doctors in China have reported a novel symptom associated with the variant: a sharp, sore throat, alongside typical COVID-19 symptoms like fever and cough. Experts suggest that officials are aiming to prevent public panic, as the current wave of the epidemic is still developing and its peak remains uncertain.

Published: 6/16/2025