Nimbus COVID Variant Spreads Across Asia, Mediterranean, Pacific Regions

The COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, nicknamed 'Nimbus' or 'razor blade throat' COVID, is driving a recent rise in cases in regions including the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, western Pacific, the UK, and Ireland. This variant is associated with unusual symptoms such as painful sore throats and gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, which differ from typical cold or flu-like symptoms of earlier variants. While Nimbus appears to be more contagious, health experts and the World Health Organization state it does not cause more severe illness than previous strains, and current COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against it. In Ireland, the variant has rapidly increased, making up 14% of recent cases and contributing to rising COVID-19 positivity rates and outbreaks, especially among older adults. Public health guidelines continue to emphasize isolation when symptomatic and caution, especially around vulnerable populations. Separately, a rare but serious case of brain inflammation (meningoencephalitis) was reported in a man after receiving a single AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine dose, highlighting the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment, though such severe reactions remain uncommon.