Written by Dr Hope Kameta, Founder | Triphasic Health Alliance
A new COVID-19 variant (NB.1.8.1) has been detected in 22 countries showing a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalizations in some countries. While the World Health Organization has evaluated the additional public health risk posed as low at the global level, NB.1.8.1 has been designated a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring (VUM) with increasing proportions globally. Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease.
The WHO, in a statement said that the strain could potentially be more transmissible than previous variants. However, it does not appear to cause worse symptoms or more serious illness.
What are the symptoms of new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 strain
- A new, continuous cough
- A high temperature or shivering (chills)
- A sore throat, blocked or runny nose
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- An aching body or a headache
- Loss of appetite, feeling sick or being sick
- Diarrhoea
Severity of subsequent COVID-19 variants: understanding the immune response.
When exposed to SARS-CoV-2, either through vaccination or infection, the immune system activates special cells: B cells and T cells. These cells don’t just help fight off the virus at that moment; they also “remember” how to do it in the future. This is called immune memory, and it plays a key role in offering protection against serious infection when exposed again.
While antibodies (the proteins that help block infection) decline over time, especially within the first few months, immune memory persists much longer. That means even if the body doesn’t stop the virus from entering your cells right away, it still knows how to respond quickly and forcefully.
New variants like NB.1.8.1 strain have changed the game a bit. They’ve mutated enough that the antibodies from earlier infections or vaccines don’t recognize them as well. This makes reinfections more common, even among people who were previously well protected.
For those with weakened immune systems, the elderly, or those who haven’t had a recent vaccine or infection, boosters are especially important to refresh and strengthen immune memory.
Study the past if you would define the future
– Confucius
As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, many are asking: Is the virus here to stay? Will it become something we manage seasonally, like the flu? History offers important lessons, but answers remain complex and contested.
Some experts believe eradication is possible, drawing parallels with past victories over diseases like smallpox. Yet even they acknowledge that this path would be long, difficult, and fraught with challenges, especially in a world as interconnected as ours.
This is where the One Health approach becomes vital. It recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply linked and that managing diseases like COVID-19 must involve cross-disciplinary collaboration. Zoonotic diseases (those that jump from animals to humans) remind us that our health is inseparable from the ecosystems we live in. Surveillance in wildlife, monitoring of agricultural practices, and environmental protection are as crucial as vaccines and public health campaigns.
Others argue that, like the influenza virus, COVID-19 is here to stay. From this viewpoint, success means managing it with vigilance through strong surveillance systems, global cooperation, and ongoing public health measures. In this scenario, the goal isn’t elimination but control and adaptation.
A third perspective emphasizes the role of vaccination and non-pharmaceutical strategies. Proponents of this view suggest that even in the absence of a single, all-powerful vaccine, immunity can still be built and managed over time. Yet the virus continues to mutate unpredictably, making it difficult to create and distribute vaccines in anticipation of future strains.
What history tells us, from past pandemics to present-day public health strategies, is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. But it also reminds us that understanding where we have been can help us navigate where we’re going. Whether the future holds eradication, adaptation, or a hybrid approach, the choices we make today will shape how the next chapter is written.
References
WHO TAG-VE Risk Evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring: NB.1.8.1
Kundu R, Narean JS, Wang L, Fenn J, Pillay T, Fernandez ND, et al. Cross-reactive memory T cells associate with protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in COVID-19 contacts. Nat Commun. (2022) 13:80. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27674-x
Loyal L, Braun J, Henze L, Kruse B, Dingeldey M, Reimer U, et al. Cross-reactive CD4(+) T cells enhance SARS-CoV-2 immune responses upon infection and vaccination. Science. (2021) 374:eabh1823. doi: 10.1126/science.abh1823
Mateus J, Dan JM, Zhang Z, Rydyznski Moderbacher C, Lammers M, Goodwin B, et al. Low-dose mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine generates durable memory enhanced by cross-reactive T cells. Science. (2021) 374:eabj9853. doi: 10.1126/science.abj9853
Okpeku, M. Possibility of COVID-19 eradication with evolution of a new omicron variant. Infect Dis Poverty 11, 30 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-022-00951-7
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