Tejal Somvanshi
A COVID variant that causes extreme throat pain is spreading quickly across America. The variant, officially called NB.1.8.1 but nicknamed “Nimbus,” now makes up 37% of all COVID cases in the United States during the two weeks ending June 7, according to Centers for Disease Control data.
The most striking feature of this variant is what people call “razor blade throat.” Patients describe the pain as feeling like they swallowed shards of glass or have razor blades lining their throat. This intense pain can make it hard to speak, eat, or even drink water.
The pain differs from typical COVID sore throats because of its severity. “With the new variant, it appears that the sore throat is yet again a prominent symptom,” New COVID variant may cause ‘razor blade throat’ — here’s what to know – 1010 WCSI said Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency room physician in South Carolina. “The sore throat is caused by the direct infection of the cells of the throat, causing irritation.” New COVID variant may cause ‘razor blade throat’ — here’s what to know – 1010 WCSI
However, doctors stress this symptom isn’t completely new. “Sore throat is a common symptom of COVID and not novel at all, and not associated with any one variant, including NB.1.8.1,” HT Syndication: New Covid-19 variant causes sore throat that feels like ‘razor blades’: Everything to know about NB.1.8.1 aka Nimbus said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF. He noted that up to 70% of COVID patients report sore throats.
What makes Nimbus concerning is how fast it spreads. The World Health Organization labeled it a “variant under monitoring” in May after it jumped from 2.5% to 10.7% of global cases in just four weeks. “What sets NB.1.8.1 apart is how quickly it spreads,” said Dr. Magdalena Sobieszczyk from Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
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The good news is that this variant doesn’t appear more dangerous than others. “It generally doesn’t make people sicker than other variants,” New COVID variant may cause ‘razor blade throat’ — here’s what to know – 1010 WCSI Fox News medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital. Hospital rates remain low even in areas where Nimbus is spreading.
For people experiencing severe throat pain, doctors recommend over-the-counter treatments like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for relief. Other symptoms include the usual COVID signs: fever, fatigue, mild cough, and congestion.
Current vaccines should still work against Nimbus, according to health officials. The California Department of Public Health stated that “The currently available 2024-25 vaccine is expected to provide protection against it.”
The variant has already become the dominant strain in California and is spreading to other states. With summer travel season starting, experts expect cases to continue rising across the country.
