New COVID Variant Linked to Severe 'Razor Blade' Sore Throats

A new COVID-19 variant called Nimbus or NB.1.8.1 may cause painful sore throats, earning it the nickname 'razor blade throat.' It is spreading mainly in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the western Pacific, but current evidence suggests it does not cause more severe illness than other variants, and existing vaccines remain effective. The WHO monitors it as a low-risk variant.