Hospital admissions up as new Covid variant spreads

16 Jun 2025 • 4:05 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A new Covid variant called Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) is spreading globally and is being monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • UK data shows Covid-related hospital admissions have risen by almost 10 per cent, with cases up by 6.9 per cent in early June.
  • Dr Naveed Asif warns that the Nimbus variant has a distinctive symptom: a severe sore throat described as a "razor blade sensation".
  • Other commonly reported symptoms include persistent fatigue, mild cough, fever, muscle aches, and nasal congestion, with some experiencing digestive issues.
  • The WHO and UKHSA indicate that current vaccines are effective against the Nimbus variant, and there is no evidence suggesting it causes more severe illness than previous variants.

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