New Covid Variant Nimbus Symptom May Show Up When You Swallow, Doctor Says

Woman with hand on neckA relatively new and seemingly highly contagious variant of Covid, NB.1.8.1, or the “Nimbus” variant, has been described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a “variant under monitoring” (VUM).That’s partly because it seems to be so easily transmissible, though the disease itself does not seem to be more severe than other strains of Covid. Speaking to CBS News, professor of epidemiology Dr Subhash Verma said: “Data indicates that NB.1.8.1 does not lead to more severe illness compared to previous variants, although it appears to have a growth advantage, suggesting it may spread more easily.”Still, though Dr. Zachary Hoy, an infectious disease specialist with Pediatrix Medical Group, previously told HuffPost that “NB.1.8.1 would have similar symptoms to other COVID variants that have recently been circulating,” researchers now think they have found a painful symptom specific to the highly transmissible disease that you may notice while swallowing.Two new variants are competing for dominance: NB.1.8.1 and XFG. We recently nicknamed NB.1.8.1 "Nimbus", and it's pretty clear that XFG deserves a nickname as well. Keeping with the meteorological theme, XFG = "Stratus".Here's some more info about Nimbus and Stratus. 🧵1/— T. Ryan Gregory 🇨🇦 (@TRyanGregory) June 12, 2025A “razor blade” sensation has been linked to the Nimbus variant Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice, shared that the Nimbus variant seems to be linked to a severe sore throat – so bad, he says, that it creates a “razor blade sensation” among patients while swallowing. The reported association presents as a very sharp pain in the back of the throat. This supposed sign of Nimbus seems to be an intense version of an existing possible Covid symptom (a sore throat).The NHS shared that other symptoms can include:a high temperature or shiveringa new, continuous cough – coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hoursa loss or change to your sense of smell or tasteshortness of breathfeeling tired or exhaustedan aching bodya headachea blocked or runny noseloss of appetitediarrhoeafeeling sick or being sick.A “razor”-like throat pain can also be caused by completely separate issues like a throat or tonsil infection.What should I do if I think I have the Nimbus variant?Though being vaccinated against Covid will almost certainly protect against the worst effects of the Nimbus strain, like all Covid and flu cases, vulnerable people are still more likely to get very sick from the disease.That means that those with the condition should try as hard as they can to contain it. Stay home and avoid people as much as possible if you are sick, the NHS says.Covering your mouth and nose with a mask, avoiding crowded indoor spaces, and letting friends, family, coworkers, and doctors know about your illness before meeting them can also help.Wash your hands and communal surfaces often, test for Covid regularly (especially after going to crowded places), and keep a window open when meeting people indoors.Related...A New Contagious Covid Variant Is In The UK – Everything We Know So Far7 Hay Fever Symptoms That Could Actually Be Signs Of CovidDon’t Wait — These Covid Symptoms Mean It’s Time to See a Doctor

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