‘Razor blade throat’ is a reported symptom of recent COVID-19 variant

The COVID-19 variant which may be driving a current rise in instances in some components of the world has earned a brand new nickname: “razor blade throat” COVID.

That’s as a result of the variant — NB.1.8.1. or “Nimbus” — might trigger painful sore throats. The symptom has been recognized by medical doctors in the UK, India and elsewhere, in response to media shops in these nations.

Different COVID-19 signs of any variant embrace fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or lack of style or scent.

Specialists say there isn’t main trigger for concern with the Nimbus variant, however right here ‘s what else you’ll want to find out about it.

Right here’s the place the variant inflicting ‘razor blade throat’ is spreading

The rise in instances late final month is primarily in jap Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific areas, the World Well being Group stated Could 28. The brand new variant had reached practically 11% of sequenced samples reported globally in mid-Could.

Airport screening in the US detected the brand new variant in vacationers arriving from these areas to locations in California, Washington state, Virginia and New York.

You aren’t more likely to get sicker from this variant than others

Not up to now, anyway.

The WHO stated some western Pacific nations have reported will increase in COVID instances and hospitalizations, however there’s nothing up to now to recommend that the illness related to the brand new variant is extra extreme in comparison with different variants.

COVID-19 vaccines are efficient towards the Nimbus variant

Sure.

The WHO has designated Nimbus as a “variant below monitoring” and considers the public well being danger low on the world degree. Present vaccines are anticipated to stay efficient.

Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced final month that COVID-19 pictures are now not really useful for wholesome youngsters and pregnant ladies — a transfer instantly questioned by public well being consultants.

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AP Well being Author Carla Johnson contributed to this story.

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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Instructional Media Group and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely answerable for all content material.