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

A new COVID variant, known as NB.1.8.1, has made landfall in the United States, and it's more transmissible than other variants.

A new COVID 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 surveillance data 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 the agency’s COVID dashboard. (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,” Dr. Zachary Hoy, 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.