World Health Organisation investigate new Covid variant

Transcript

00:00Hi, I'm health reporter Sarah McCann. There is another new COVID variant that has been causing

00:05spikes in infections in China. Here's everything you need to know about NB181.

00:12Since the COVID pandemic, there have been many different variants of COVID. NB181 is a sub-variant

00:20of the Omicron strain, which saw cases spike across the world in 2023. Despite this increase

00:27in cases and hospitalisations, where NB181 is widespread, the WHO evaluated it as having a

00:34low public health risk, with current data showing that it does not lead to more severe illness than

00:39any other COVID variants. You can find out more about COVID, the signs, the symptoms,

00:45and if you're eligible for the spring booster at nhs.uk. Despite the many different COVID strains,

00:52symptoms do remain the same. They include a high temperature, a new continuous cough,

00:59a loss or change in your taste or sense of smell, and cold or free-like symptoms such as a headache,

01:04a sore throat, fatigue, and nausea. According to the World Health Organisation,

01:09the variant is currently under monitoring, with cases reported in over 22 countries.