Four Important Things to Know About the New Covid-19 Subvariant NB.1.8.1

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A new Covid-19 subvariant, NB.1.8.1, has drawn attention due to its growing spread, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting an uptick in cases since mid-February 2025. Here are four key facts about the NB.1.8.1 variant:

1. Newly Classified Variant Under Monitoring

The WHO designated NB.1.8.1 as a variant under monitoring (VUM) on May 23, 2025. It is a descendant of XDV.1.5.1, which itself comes from the JN.1 lineage—a variant of interest (VOI) since late 2024.

Experts believe NB.1.8.1 carries mutations in the spike protein, possibly increasing its transmissibility, though there is no strong evidence yet linking it to more severe symptoms or greater immune escape.

2. Suspected to Be More Transmissible

According to the World Health Network, NB.1.8.1 may spread more rapidly than previous variants. Reported symptoms often include a sharp or tingling sore throat, mild cough, fever, muscle aches, and nasal congestion.

Despite its spread, current Covid-19 vaccines—especially XBB-based bivalent boosters—remain effective in protecting against severe illness. Antiviral treatments like Paxlovid and remdesivir are also still effective against this subvariant.

Detected in 22 Countries

The WHO noted that rising cases of NB.1.8.1 began after the global decline of the earlier SARS-CoV-2 variant LP.8.1. As of now, this subvariant has been detected in 22 countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, India, and across the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific regions.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region includes Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan. The Southeast Asia Region comprises Maldives, Thailand (with a rise observed between epidemiological weeks 16 to 20), and India (with an increase noted in week 20). The Western Pacific Region includes Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore.

Data from Ginkgo Bioworks, a CDC airport testing partner, show that the variant has also been found in several U.S. states, including New York, California, Arizona, Ohio, and Rhode Island.

4. WHO Urges Continued Vigilance

Although global case numbers remain consistent with the same period last year, the WHO has yet to determine a seasonal pattern for the virus’s spread, citing limited surveillance data.

The organization calls on all member countries to apply a risk-based and integrated approach to managing Covid-19 and stresses the importance of continued vaccinations, especially for high-risk groups.

The WHO emphasized that while the current global case count is consistent with levels seen this time last year, a clear seasonal pattern has yet to be identified due to ongoing limitations in surveillance data.

Dicky Kurniawan MP and M. Faiz Zaki contributed to the writing of this article.

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