The new variant of booming coronavirus in China has arrived in the United States. Here’s what you need to know about Nimbus
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A new variant of coronavirus is spreading in many regions of the world.
The variant, nb.1.8.1, was identified as the cause of the resurgence of Covid-19 in China and several other Asian countries. Experts in Europe predict a possible increase in cases there.
A summer wave could also occur in the United States. According to the centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, NB.1.8.1 already represents approximately a third of the new cases COVID-19 to June 2. This is a significant increase compared to a month earlier, when the new variant has only represented 5% of new COVID-19 cases.
Could another summer wave really occur? Do current vaccines still work, and if so, which should consider obtaining another dose now? And what precautions should people take to reduce their risk of contracting Covid-19?
To help us with these questions, I spoke with CNN Wellness expert, Dr Leana Wen, emergency doctor and clinical teacher at George Washington University. Wen was previously Baltimore health commissioner.
CNN: What should people in the new variant know?
Magnifying glass: The SARS-COV-2 virus is constantly based, and it is quite planned that there will be new variants. The more the virus is offered of opportunities to spread, the more it has any changes to mutate.
Whenever a new variant arises which seems to exceed the previous strains, it is important to ask three questions: does it cause a more serious disease, is it more contagious and do existing vaccines still work against it?
This new variant, NB.1.8.1, also called Nimbus, is a descendant of the Omicron strain. The World Health Organization has deemed the new strain a “variant under surveillance”. However, which also reports that surveillance data does not show that it has increased gravity compared to the previously circulating variants. Since this tension exceeds the previous variants, it is possible that it is more contagious, but nothing suggests that it is spread differently compared to past variants.
As for whether the existing vaccines work against this variant, the answer is not known. WHO cites laboratory data showing that it may have immune escape, which means that it can be less sensitive to immunity provided by vaccines or previous infection and suggesting a possible reduction in the efficiency of vaccines. At the same time, NB.1.8.1 is a descendant close to other strains against which vaccines have an effectiveness.
I expect more data available in the coming weeks, because federal health officials will soon decide on the formulation of the COVVI-19 vaccine updated this fall. Knowing that NB.1.8.1 constitutes an increasing proportion of cases, they will most likely try to guarantee that the formulation is once again the effectiveness of this variant.
CNN: What are the symptoms of infection NB1.8.1?
Magnifying glass: Symptoms seem to be similar to infection by other variants. There is a wide range of symptoms and severity. Some patients may have symptoms similar to allergies, such as suffocating and a flowing nose. Others may have symptoms of the cold or flulike, with fever, sore throat, fatigue, headache and muscles or body. Some people may develop a cough and difficulty breathing. Some may have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Although most people recover, some may become seriously sick and require hospitalization. Some people who contract COVVI-19 can also develop the post-violence condition known as the long coco.
CNN: Could another summer wave really reproduce?
Magnifying glass: Yes. It could be triggered by a new, more contagious variant which has a certain degree of immune escape. A wave could also occur simply due to the drop in population immunity. Some experts believe that the emergence of this new strain combined with a less recent COVI-9 activity could start a wave in the coming months.
What we have seen from several years of experience with COVID-19 is that infections tend to come in waves. An increase in cases leads to many sick people, then recover and develop short -term immunity to infection. The infection rates decrease for several months, then they start to increase.
Covid-19 summer waves have taken place in recent years. It is certainly possible that the model is repeated this year.
CNN: Who should consider obtaining the vaccine now instead of waiting for the fall formulation?
Magnifying glass: This is a difficult question to answer because the landscape around the COVVI-19 vaccination has changed. Last month, the Secretary in the United States of Health and Social Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These photos always seem accessible to children; For example, CDC directives now indicate that children can get photos after consulting their health care provider. However, there are already reports of pregnant women who have more difficulty obtaining these vaccines.
These tips and others could soon change, because Kennedy has reconstructed the panel of external experts who advise the CDC on vaccine recommendations, and this new panel could make different decisions at their next meeting at the end of June. Another uncertainty is when a new cycle of vaccines is made available.
One way to approach this decision is to consider your risk of serious results if you were to contract COVVI-19. Those who are 65 and over or who have chronic underlying medical conditions should consider another dose of the vaccine now, if they are eligible. In this way, they have additional protection in the event of a summer wave, as the existing vaccine probably retains some efficiency against the new variant. And they can always get another dose in the fall when the new formulation is probably published.
As for those who are younger and generally healthy, some who have not yet received the formulation of 2024-25 may also consider obtaining the vaccine now before the directives change and they may no longer be eligible. People should discuss their specific medical situations with their primary care doctor.
CNN: What precautions should people consider to reduce their risk of contracting this variant?
Magnifying glass: The same precautions that we have discussed throughout the COVVI-19 pandemic always apply. It is a respiratory virus that could be in the air, so be on guard, especially in overcrowded interior environments.
People particularly vulnerable to serious illnesses should try to avoid these contexts. If they need to enter, for example, a crowded station, they should consider wearing a well -adjusted N95 or an equivalent mask.
People visiting vulnerable people may wish to avoid higher risk contexts in the days preceding the visit to reduce the chances of spreading not only COVID-19 but also other respiratory diseases.
