A fast-spreading Omicron subvariant, NB.1.8.1, is driving an uptick in COVID-19 infections across Australia, warns virologist Dr. Lara Herrero in The Conversation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified NB.1.8.1, a descendant of the XDV lineage, as a “variant under monitoring” due to its rapid growth in Asia, where it now dominates in Hong Kong and China.
Australia’s Emerging Threat
Genomic surveillance reveals NB.1.8.1 accounts for up to 40% of cases in Victoria and is the predominant strain is detecting in Perth’s wastewater. While its mutations (including T22N and V445H on the spike protein) may enhance cell binding and transmissibility, there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than earlier Omicron strains. Symptoms remain familiar: sore throat, fatigue, fever, and cough.
Vaccines Still Protective—But Uptake Is Low
Current JN.1-targeted vaccines are expected to retain effectiveness against severe outcomes from NB.1.8.1. However, with just 6.6% of Australian adults boosted in the past six months, experts urge vulnerable populations to update vaccinations ahead of winter’s peak flu and COVID season.
“This variant’s spread underscores the need for vigilance,” says Herrero, emphasizing boosters and antiviral access as key tools to mitigate the wave. Health officials are monitoring hospitalizations, but no surge in severe illness has been reported yet.
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