As the world continues its post-pandemic recovery, a new subvariant of the coronavirus, designated NB.1.8.1—nicknamed “Nimbus”—has emerged with a peculiar and painful symptom: an intense sore throat described by many patients as akin to “swallowing razor blades.”
Though not currently classified as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), Nimbus has been spreading steadily across India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe and Asia, prompting renewed public health advisories and heightened monitoring by global virologists.
A Sharp New Symptom
While sore throat has long been associated with COVID-19, what distinguishes the Nimbus variant is the severity of this symptom. Patients across continents report sharp, cutting throat pain that makes eating, drinking, and even speaking difficult.
“It’s like my throat is lined with broken glass,” one U.S. patient told local media. Others have described the pain as more severe than anything experienced during earlier infections, even in mild cases. The symptom has become so distinct that it is now viewed as a potential early indicator of the variant.
Transmission Without Increased Severity
Despite its painful presentation, medical authorities stress that Nimbus does not appear to cause more severe illness than previous Omicron subvariants. Hospitalization rates have not surged in areas where the variant is dominant.
According to the World Health Organization, NB.1.8.1 currently accounts for approximately 11% of sequenced global COVID-19 cases. Wastewater testing, airport surveillance, and genomic sequencing have confirmed its presence in multiple countries, with India and the U.S. among those seeing a rise in cases.
Public health experts believe that while the variant’s transmissibility is high, existing vaccines continue to provide protection against severe outcomes.
Public Health Guidance Remains the Same
The WHO has listed NB.1.8.1 as a Variant Under Monitoring, not a Variant of Concern. Still, officials are urging continued caution. Masking in crowded indoor spaces, maintaining hand hygiene, staying home when symptomatic, and regular testing remain crucial.
Doctors are advising those infected with the Nimbus variant to focus on symptomatic relief, including warm fluids, throat lozenges, over-the-counter pain relievers, and rest.
“No new treatment protocol is necessary,” said Dr. Shalini Rao, an infectious disease specialist in Delhi. “But the severity of throat pain might require patients to take more rest days, even if the fever or fatigue is mild.”
A Pandemic Footnote, or Warning Sign?
While the world has largely moved on from emergency pandemic measures, the emergence of Nimbus serves as a reminder that the virus is still evolving. Its strange and painful symptoms may be unsettling, but they don’t currently suggest a major health crisis.
Still, for those infected, the experience is far from mild. And for doctors and researchers, it signals the need to stay alert and informed, even as global COVID fatigue continues to set in.
