#New Variant

[tomorrowusa]

COVID-19 has not gone away. It keeps mutating into new variants, and NB.1.8.1 is one we should be concerned about.

Public-health experts have warned for months that the COVID-19 virus isn’t gone—and, far from waning, SARS-CoV-2 has mutated yet again into a new variant. Called NB.1.8.1, it's causing a spike in infections in China. A few cases also recently appeared in the U.S. when people arriving at airports tested positive, according to a statement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The World Health Organization has also designated it as a “variant under monitoring.” [ ... ] Symptoms are similar to those linked to other COVID-19 strains and include sore throat, fever, cough, and fatigue. So far, based on data from other countries where cases have been reported, the variant does not seem to cause more severe disease—but genetically, it is equipped with changes that allow it be infect cells more efficiently. That means it could spread more easily among people.

So it's average severity for COVID but can apparently be spread more easily.

Unfortunately, "Worm Brain" RFK Jr. is making it more difficult to get vaccinated.

Getting vaccinated, however, may become harder for other groups. In a series of unusual moves, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the CDC will no longer recommend a yearly shot for healthy children and pregnant women; the FDA recently said it will not recommend it for healthy adults until vaccine makers conduct additional studies to prove its safety and effectiveness in this population. These changes mean that insurers may no longer cover the shot, and people who want to get vaccinated may have to pay out of pocket.

The Guardian adds this.

Like its predecessors, NB.1.8.1 carries mutations in the spike protein. This is the protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to infect us – specifically via the ACE2 receptors, a “doorway” to our cells. The mutations include T22N, F59S, G184S, A435S, V445H, and T478I. It’s early days for this variant, so we don’t have much data on what these changes mean yet. But a recent preprint (a study that has not yet been peer-reviewed) offers some clues about why NB.1.8.1 may be gathering traction. Using lab-based models, researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested – suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains.

So get the latest booster while it's still free. And it probably wouldn't hurt to wear a face mask when in crowded places like public transit.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

WHO: GLOBAL COVID-19 CASES ARE INCREASING AS NEW VARIANT EMERGES

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a global rise in COVID-19 cases, with the test positivity rate climbing to 11%, a level not seen since July 2024.

Coinciding with this uptick of cases is the emergence of a new variant known as NB.1.8.1, a descendant of Omicron, which has been classified as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM).

Since it was first identified earlier this year, cases have been reported in several countries, particularly in travelers from China, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

In China, NB.1.8.1 has become the dominant strain and is linked to increasing emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

According to Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control, NB.1.8.1 shows strong immune-evasion capabilities, making it more transmissible than earlier variants.

Despite the surge in nearby countries such as China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, where some schools have returned to online learning, the Philippines’ COVID-19 situation remains stable, according to local health authorities.

While the WHO continues to assess the global public health risk as low, and current vaccines are expected to remain effective, everyone is encouraged to stay alert, practice good hygiene, and take precautions to protect their health.

[alias-a]

taylor swift wallpaper | ttpd new cd version 🤍🤍🤍🤍

[fabricdragondesigns]

Even with a new booster, the XBB.1.5 vaccine offered no increased protection from infection against the JN.1 variant. This alarming discovery underscores the virus's relentless ability to mutate and evade our defenses, fueling continued transmission, evolution, and the devastating threat of Long COVID.

"Ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 drives escape from mRNA vaccine-induced humoral immunity"

(March 07, 2024)

"However, progressive loss of neutralization was observed across newer variants, irrespective of vaccine doses. Importantly, an updated XBB.1.5 booster significantly increased titers against newer variants but not JN.1. These findings demonstrate that seasonal boosters improve titers against contemporaneous strains, but novel variants continue to evade updated mRNA vaccines, demonstrating the need for novel approaches to adequately control SARS-CoV-2 transmission."

[nvisiblelocket]

the target variant being called "phantom clear" is very scary to me because the variant names are NEVER random and i started thinking about how it's similar to crystal clear and how it means that it's easily understood and how phantom clear could be about how absence can be a very clear message idk

[ricisidro]

The new COVID-19 strain XEC might not be as severe, but is part of the more contagious variant class, experts say.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines XEC as recombinant or hybrid of the Omicron strains KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.

The XEC variant, which first appeared in Berlin in late June, has increasingly seen hundreds of cases across #Europe notably in Germany, France, Denmark and Netherlands and in Asia. It has also been reported in at least 25 U. S. states.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/09/21/covid-xec-variant/75303152007/

[kamalkafir-blog]

coronavirus new variant dangerous for these people be carefull

[NEWS] Coronavirus in India: पूरी दुनिया में कोरोना वायरस का नया वैरिएंट तेजी से फैल रहा है. इस वैरिएंट के सबसे ज्यादा संक्रमित मरीज सिंगापुर में मिल रहे हैं. वहीं अगर भारत की बात की जाए तो यहां पर अब तक 2 लोगों की मौत हुई है और 257 मामले सामने आए हैं. इनमें से सबसे ज्यादा केरल, महाराष्ट्र और तमिलनाडु में कोरोना फैल रहा है. ऐसे में आपको अपना खास ख्याल रखना होगा और अपने परिवार को भी बचाकर रखना…

[rightnewshindi]

शिल्पा शिरोडकर भी हुई कोविड-19 पॉजिटिव, भारत और एशिया में बढ़ते मामलों पर दी यह सलाह #News #RightNews #HindiNews

[thoughtlessarse]

US authorities have said the detection of a different strain of avian influenza, the D1.1 genotype, in dairy cows in January is proof that bird flu has now spread from wild birds into cattle twice, in an outbreak that started in late 2023. The genotype refers to the genetic makeup of a virus, within a group of virus types. In this case, it is the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A H5N1. In March 2024, authorities in the US confirmed the outbreak had originated from genotype B3.13. That type has infected more than 950 cattle herds in 16 US states and spread to Canada. D1.1 was detected in milk collected as part of a surveillance program launched in December 2024.  Is bird flu spreading internationally? Yes, it appears that bird flu from the current US outbreak may have spread beyond North America. In January, UK authorities confirmed a second human case of H5N1 avian influenza. The first was detected in 2022, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. "The risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low despite this confirmed case," said Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, in a statement on January 27. But many governments have been buying up vaccine stocks and ramping up precautionary measures in response to the circulating virus.

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[chloesimaginationthings]

FNAF helpy has an old friend from SOTM,,,

[bruciemilf]

Battinson with a Harley would actually tear a hole in the delicate fabric of universal peace.

Harley: What’s your favorite color?

Bruce, currently trying to find a facility that isn't fucking Arkham in this hellhole of a city: We don't have to do the small talk

Harley: Oh, okay! Do you really think you’re a good person, deep down?

Bruce: …Blue.

[prakashtimes]

SKODA’S SLAVIA GETS A NEW VARIANT PRICED AT RS. 19.13L

Skoda has added a new form to its Slavia car. The price is Rs. 19.13 lakhs (plus tax). This top-of-the-line trim is likely to be limited to just 500 cars.

Follow for more information Prakashtime.com

[dduane]

Mask up and stay alert.

[tycutiovevo]

victini variants! based these on different rabbit breeds, and the last on hares and jackrabbits! which is your favorite?

[airbrickwall]

[linkedin-offficial]

me when i get the opportunity to think about speculative biology and non-existent game mechanics in media i like

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