The coronavirus has made a reappearance. In India, 752 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the last week, pushing the total number of positive cases to over 1,000. States like Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi have seen the highest increase in cases during this period. Meanwhile, cases are being reported internationally as well.
According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, has been identified among several international passengers at major US airports. As CBS News reports, this variant is thought to be proliferating due to rising COVID-19 cases in China and parts of Asia.
A new COVID variant, NB.1.8.1, has been detected at US airports. Data from CDC's airport testing partner, Ginkgo Bioworks, reveals that cases have been identified among international travelers arriving at airports across California, Washington State, Virginia, and the New York City area.
Health authorities in Hong Kong and Taiwan have reported an increase in hospital admissions and emergency room visits, leading to efforts to stockpile masks, vaccines, and antiviral medications.
A new COVID variant in the United States
By May 2025, a new variant referred to as NB.1.8.1, stemming from the Omicron sublineage JN.1, was identified. It has been recognized as a contributing factor to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases across Asia, and it has also been discovered in the United States. Initially reported in China, this variant has swiftly become a prevalent strain. Its presence has also been confirmed in other parts of Asia, including Singapore and Hong Kong.
Read also: COVID spreads swiftly in Karnataka, with 73 cases found in Bengaluru alone
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified NB.1.8.1 as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM) due to its rising global propagation. This variant is derived from the recombinant variant XDV.1.5.1, with its first sample collected on January 22, 2025. It was officially categorized as VUM on May 23, 2025.
Deaths in America
Data from the CDC indicate that an average of 350 American individuals succumbed to the coronavirus each week over the last month. Although the number of fatalities is considerable, the agency noted a decline in infections.
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