A new COVID-19 subvariant called NB.1.8.1 is driving up infections across Australia, particularly in Western Australia where it has become the dominant strain in Perth’s wastewater. As winter sets in, health officials are closely monitoring this latest development in the ongoing pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated NB.1.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring” on May 23, 2025, due to its increasing global spread. First detected in January 2025, this Omicron sublineage descended from the recombinant XDV lineage. Rising Numbers in Western Australia COVID-19 hospitalizations in Western Australia have increased to an average of 38 patients per day, up from … Continue reading NB.1.8.1 COVID Variant Hits 10.7% Global Share, Drives WA Hospital Rise and Dominates Perth Wastewater