The COVID-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: “razor blade throat” COVID. A newly emerging COVID-19 variant, known scientifically as NB.1.8.1 and informally nicknamed “Nimbus,” is drawing attention due to a particularly painful symptom — an intense sore throat described by some patients as feeling like “razor blades.”
Doctors in the United Kingdom, India, and several other countries have identified this symptom in recent weeks as cases linked to the variant continue to rise. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on May 28 that a noticeable increase in COVID-19 cases has been observed primarily in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and western Pacific regions. By mid-May, the Nimbus variant accounted for nearly 11% of sequenced samples globally.
In the United States, airport screenings have detected the variant in travelers arriving from affected regions. Confirmed cases have been found in California, Washington state, Virginia, and New York. Despite the rise in cases, health experts say there is currently no major cause for alarm. Standard COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell continue to be associated with the variant.
Authorities are continuing to monitor its spread and characteristics.