A fresh COVID-19 strain, ominously dubbed Nimbus, is making silent but swift strides across nations — notably puncturing its presence in California — marked by its chilling symptom: a throat pain likened to razor blades.
Classified officially as NB.1.8.1, this mutation earned the “variant under monitoring” tag from the World Health Organization on May 23. While not branded as high-risk yet, its growing velocity is cause for elevated concern. From composing merely 2.5% of worldwide samples a month earlier, it leapt to 10.7% by late April — a meteoric rise that betrays its potential.
Identified for the first time back in January, Nimbus is laced with several molecular tweaks — particularly in its spike protein, the viral key that unlocks human cells. These alterations could grant it stronger stealth against immune defenses, even in people who were previously infected or vaccinated.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease authority at UCSF, explained it plainly: “Each new variant is slightly slicker in transmission than its predecessor — much like a catchy tune that climbs the charts with ease. Nimbus is not only climbing, it’s sprinting up the ladder here in California… Though, for now, it doesn’t seem more vicious,” as per sfgate.com.
The Stanford Clinical Virology Lab flagged one of California’s earliest known cases of NB.1.8.1 on April 17, recording it in the GISAID COVID-19 database, as noted by the San Francisco Chronicle. While LP.8.1, an Omicron offshoot, still drives most US cases, Nimbus is clearly accelerating its pace.
In a formal release, the California Department of Public Health shared that NB.1.8.1’s footprint is expanding steadily. It is outpacing other contenders in sequencing counts and is being monitored via genome tracing and wastewater data.
Even though wastewater virus levels appear to have steadied recently, test positivity is inching upward — climbing from 1.1% in March to 2.8% by June. Fortunately, hospital admissions remain flat and relatively low, officials report.
One haunting marker of Nimbus is the intense sore throat — described by sufferers as akin to swallowing glass shards. While eye-catching, Chin-Hong downplayed its novelty. “COVID has always brought along throat pain for many — especially since the Omicron wave began. Around 70% of people who catch it report this symptom.”
“It’s just a reminder,” he added, “COVID’s no breeze. Even without hospital visits, it can knock you flat. Dodging it, if possible, is a service to yourself and everyone around.”
The uptick in Nimbus infections, according to Chin-Hong, fits a seasonal script familiar since Omicron’s arrival: summertime surges.
“Nimbus seems fond of both sun and snow,” he quipped, hinting at its all-season prowess. “Last summer, virus loads in wastewater were even heavier than winter’s.”
What’s fueling the spike? He named several culprits: many have moved beyond the six-month window since their last vaccine or infection, and as vacations and travel resume, so do opportunities for the virus to hitch a ride, according to sfgate.com.
Though current hospital numbers aren’t alarming, the vulnerable population — older adults or immunocompromised folks — remain at risk. Chin-Hong strongly advises masks and vaccine updates for those groups. In California alone, 255 COVID-related deaths occurred in the last three months, per CDC data ending June 7.
“Especially for seniors,” he warned, “more than half over 65 didn’t get last year’s shot. They still qualify — and should consider it this summer.”
While most won’t face dire outcomes, Chin-Hong stressed that prevention still matters.
“You might dodge the ER, but COVID’s still a major hassle,” he said. “No need for alarm bells, but folks should wise up — be COVID-savvy, not careless.”