Key Points:
- The new variant has been detected among international travellers arriving in the US.
- The variant is more transmissible but not necessarily more severe.
- Health officials urge international cooperation to identify the driving variant behind rising infections.
ISLAMABAD: A fresh wave of COVID-19 infections is emerging across multiple continents, as the US health authorities have confirmed the arrival of a new variant, NB.1.8.1, which has been linked to a recent surge in cases across Asia.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is witnessing a troubling increase in hospitalisations and deaths, with Karachi being particularly hit hard by the latest wave.
A new wave of COVID-19 is sweeping across continents, with the NB.1.8.1 variant — now dominant in China — contributing to surges in Asia and being detected among international travellers to the US.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), multiple international travellers arriving in airports in California, New York, Virginia, and Washington state have tested positive for the NB.1.8.1 variant — a strain now dominant in China and causing spikes in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Sequencing data reveals that these infections stem from passengers travelling from countries including Japan, South Korea, France, Vietnam, and Thailand.
The variant, which appears more transmissible due to stronger binding to human cells, has so far not shown signs of causing more severe illness. However, in response to its spread, US health officials are advising increased mask usage in crowded settings and urging a boost in vaccination and treatment preparedness.
Health authorities in the US are urging renewed precautions, including mask-wearing and bolstering vaccination campaigns, as the NB.1.8.1 strain shows signs of rapid spread — though not necessarily greater severity.
Pakistan is seeing a parallel trend. Karachi’s Aga Khan University Hospital has reported at least four COVID-19 deaths in recent weeks, primarily among the elderly with underlying conditions. Health experts describe this midsummer spike as highly unusual, given that respiratory illnesses typically surge in winter.
The timing of this resurgence, during peak summer heat, suggests the virus may be evolving in ways we don’t yet fully understand, a senior NIH official.
“This is an unexpected pattern. Even as daytime temperatures exceed 40°C, we are seeing a consistent influx of COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Syed Faisal Mahmood, an infectious diseases expert at AKUH.
Hospitals such as Dow University of Health Sciences and the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital are also reporting new cases daily. While most cases involve mild flu-like symptoms — sore throat, fever, cough, and body aches — doctors caution that vulnerable individuals remain at risk of severe outcomes. Gene sequencing is underway to determine whether the JN.1 Omicron subvariant or NB.1.8.1 is responsible for the recent surge.
In Islamabad, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has acknowledged receiving informal reports of increased respiratory infections but warns of underreporting due to inconsistent testing. Officials urge enhanced surveillance to determine the scope and variant responsible for the resurgence.
Experts are concerned not just by the return of infections but also by the unusual timing and geographical spread. “A COVID-19 resurgence during intense heat suggests potential changes in the virus’s behaviour or community transmission dynamics,” said a senior NIH official.
Globally, the renewed uptick has reignited calls for vigilance, especially among at-risk populations. Authorities urge the public to adhere to basic protective measures — mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and timely testing — while governments prepare for potential wider outbreaks linked to the new variant.
As the world faces a new phase in the ongoing COVID-19 challenge, health systems are on alert, emphasising early detection, vaccination drives, and international cooperation to curb the spread of evolving variants.
