New COVID variant is spreading: Painful new symptom being reported

A new COVID variant is spreading quickly in the U.S. and bringing with it a painful new symptom.

Variant NB.1.8.1, or Nimbus, was first detected in China in January and, in May, accounted for 0% if cases in the U.S. in May, USA Today reported. By early June, it made up 37% of cases in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common strain remains Omicron, or LP.8.1, which accounts for 38% of cases.

The World Health Organization has classified NB.1.8.1 has a “variant under monitoring.” Current vaccines are effective against the strain, WHO said, and there are no indications the strain causes more severe illness or results in increased hospitalizations.

COVID symptoms

There is one other symptom that’s widely reported among NB.1.8.1 – a condition dubbed “razor blade throat.” People who have tested positive for the virus report an extremely sore throat though it’s unclear if the symptom is more common among those whose vaccinations are up to date vs. those who are not.

Other symptoms of this variant are similar to earlier COVID strains and include:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Congestion or runny nose
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Nausea or vomiting