A New COVID Variant Is Here, And It’s More Transmissible — Here Are The Signs And Symptoms

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

A New COVID Variant Is Here, And It’s More Transmissible — Here Are The Signs And Symptoms

A new

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

variant known as NB.1.8.1 has made landfall in the United States. The variant, which was first detected in China this past January, currently accounts for 10% of the SARS-CoV-2 sequences tested from around the world, recent

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

found. That’s a significant jump from 2.5% four weeks ago. 

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesperson told HuffPost that the agency is in regular contact with international partners about the activity of NB.1.8.1. To date, only 20 NB.1.8.1 sequences have been identified in the U.S. — that’s below the threshold needed for a variant to appear on

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

. (As soon as its prevalence increases, NB.1.8.1 will pop up on the tracker, the spokesperson added.)

It’s nerve-wracking to hear that a new variant is making the rounds, but infectious disease specialists say there are no glaring differences between the symptoms of NB.1.8.1 and those caused by other versions of SARS-CoV-2. 

“Currently it appears that NB.1.8.1 would have similar symptoms to other COVID variants that have recently been circulating,”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, Tennessee, told HuffPost. 

Here’s what to know about the newest COVID variant that’s gaining traction around the world.

NB.1.8.1’s mutations likely make it more transmissible. 

Compared to the currently dominant variant in the U.S. (LP.8.1), NB.1.8.1 has a handful of new mutations on the spike protein that may enhance its ability to bind to our cells, according to the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

(WHO). 

The agency suspects these mutations will increase the virus’s transmissibility and, potentially, diminish the effectiveness of

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

that prevent pathogens from latching to our cells. In other words, the variant may be skilled at dodging some of our immune defenses,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

suggests.

“Currently it appears that NB.1.8.1 would have similar symptoms to other COVID variants that have recently been circulating,”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

a pediatric infectious disease specialist. Yuichiro Chino via Getty ImagesHere are the signs and symptoms doctors are seeing with NB.1.8.1.

According to

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, an infectious diseases expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, NB.1.8.1’s

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

are pretty much the same as those seen with other

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

Two of COVID’s hallmark symptoms are a mild but persistent dry cough and nasal congestion, Hoy said. Many people who come down with COVID are also hit with fatigue and tiredness. “An infected person can still make it through the day, but they are resting more and feel more tired throughout the day,” Hoy said.

Other common symptoms include a fever, chills, a sore throat and muscle aches. “Some have described recent variants as less intense symptoms as compared to wintertime influenza viruses, but both can have severe symptoms,” Hoy said.

There’s no evidence suggesting the variant causes more severe disease or an uptick in hospitalizations or deaths, the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

states. The only noticeable aspect, as of now, is that it’s rising in prevalence, Adalja said.

How effective are the vaccines against NB.1.8.1?

It’s too early to know exactly how effective the shots are — as the research on NB.1.8.1 is limited since it’s so new — but scientists expect the shots to hold up well. NB.1.8.1 broke off from the Omicron JN.1 lineage, which the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

target. “The ability of the vaccines to prevent severe illness is intact though protection versus infection is limited and transient,” Adalja said.

Anyone who is at risk of severe disease should stay up-to-date with the shots. “Those in older populations or with underlying immune disorders or on immune-decreasing medications would benefit more from vaccination or those with increased exposure such as healthcare workers,” Hoy added.

So if you have

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

that puts you at risk, it’s worth getting vaccinated if it’s been more than six months since your last vaccine or bout of COVID, Adalja advises. He also added that those who are low-risk likely do not need to go out and get another shot. 

Know when to treat NB.1.8.1 at home and when to go visit a doctor.

Most people will be able to recover at home by resting and staying hydrated. While you’re sick, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help alleviate muscle aches and fevers, Hoy said. And, in most cases, symptoms should clear up within a week.

For those who are

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, including older adults and people who are immune-compromised, it’s worth contacting a physician as they can prescribe antivirals — Paxlovid and Molnupiravir — that can significantly lower the risk of severe complications and death. As was the case with previous variants, these antivirals work best when started within five days of symptom onset. 

As for when you should go to an urgent care or emergency room? When you have chest pain, have a hard time waking up or staying awake, or feel confused and disoriented,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

. Hoy says the most concerning symptom he warns patients about is difficulty breathing. “If you have COVID or COVID-like illness and have worsening trouble breathing or chest pain, you should be evaluated at your doctor’s office, urgent care or the ER,” he said. 

Related…

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#COVID #Variant #Transmissible #Signs #Symptoms

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up