Surveillance in Focus: Authorities Keeping a Closely-Watched Eye on Particular Option
The Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC) is closely monitoring the rising prevalence of the Covid-19 variant NB.1.8.1, which the World Health Organization (WHO) anticipates will become the dominant strain in the country.
As per reports from Dr Yongyot Thummavudhi, the director-general of the DMSC, the WHO is keeping a watchful eye on Omicron variants, including Variants of Interest like JN.1 and those classified as Variants Under Monitoring, which currently include six strains. Among these, NB.1.8.1 is of particular concern.
Initially detected on January 22, NB.1.8.1, a subvariant of Omicron originating from the hybrid strain XDV.1.5.1, has now been found in 22 countries. According to data from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data, NB.1.8.1 accounted for 10.7% of the total number of cases in a period between March 31 and April 27, indicating a significant acceleration in its global spread.
The variant's rise was accompanied by a decline in XEC infections, which dropped from 22.3% in week 14 to 17.8% by week 17. Meanwhile, the number of LP.8.1 cases gradually decreased over the following three weeks, only to be replaced by the increasing prominence of NB.1.8.1.
Worldwide, NB.1.8.1 has been detected among international travelers arriving at major US airports from various countries, and its presence is increasing in the Western Pacific region, Europe, and the Americas. In Taiwan, the variant is causing a surge in cases and a rise in severe and fatal cases, resulting in a shortage of testing kits.
Although NB.1.8.1 is more transmissible than previous variants, it does not appear to cause more severe illness. As such, the WHO encourages continued monitoring and the implementation of integrated risk-based COVID-19 management strategies, including vaccination, to prevent severe disease and death. Despite the rapid spread of NB.1.8.1, control strategies focusing on vaccination and ongoing surveillance are critical in mitigating its impact on public health.
Due to concerns about the increasing global spread of NB.1.8.1, it's vital for the scientific community to focus on understanding and monitoring this variant. This particular strain could potentially impact health-and-wellness outcomes, given its association with medical-conditions like Covid-19, and its enhanced transmissibility compared to previous variants.
