'Razor Blade Throat' COVID Subvariant Discovered In MA

MASSACHUSETTS — A new COVID-19 subvariant born from Omicron has become the dominant strain in the U.S. and cases have been spreading throughout the Bay State in recent weeks.

Dubbed "Nimbus" (NB.181), the highly contagious version of coronavirus is characterized by its extremely painful sore throat, described as "razor blade throat" overseas.

Those who have contracted the strain and previously similar variants have described intense throat pain akin to having a throat lined with shards of glass.

“Before Omicron, I think most people presented with the usual loss of taste and smell as the predominant symptom and shortness of breath,” Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious disease expert told the Los Angeles Times.

These days, those sickened by COVID are less likely to be hospitalized, but patients tend to focus on other symptoms, such as a painful sore throat, Chin-Hong said.

Nimbus, which originated in China, accounts for an estimated 37 percent of cases nationwide, according to data collected over two weeks starting on June 7.

“What sets NB.1.8.1 apart is how quickly it spreads,” said Dr. Magdalena Sobieszczyk, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

“It has a genetic advantage: mutations that make it easy for it to bind to receptors on human cells. The mutations could allow NB.1.8.1 to spread faster and therefore infect more people.”

An uptick in cases is arriving just as the summer travel season is about to begin, which could spell trouble for the Bay State with throngs flocking to vacation here.

See Also: Nationwide Pharmacy Chain Will Have Only 3 Locations Left In MA After Impending Closure

“We will probably see a spike in COVID cases this summer because people may be traveling more,” Sobieszczyk said. “But any huge spike will be offset by people engaging in outdoor activities, in areas with more ventilation.”

Luckily, experts say that the traditional methods of warding off COVID-19 are effective against Nimbus, such as vaccination, wearing a mask and washing hands.

See Also: Person With Measles Visited Several Boston Locations, Officials Say

Nimbus first reached the U.S. likely in March, around when it was first detected through airport screening programs for international travelers.

According to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, COVID levels detected in wastewater have been relatively low as of June 10 averaging less than 5,000 RNA copies per milliliter. In the first week of June, the state reported that there were zero COVID related deaths in the state.

The subvariant is spreading as federal authorities dramatically scaled back the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine recommendations. Now, the CDC does not offer guidance on whether pregnant women should get a COVID vaccine. The guidance also asks parents to consult a doctor before getting their children vaccinated.

The U.S. Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a known vaccine skeptic, also shook up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on June 11, drawing criticism from many in the public health and medical communities.

Kennedy announced eight new members to serve on the committee after removing all 17 of the previous members. Health experts have also noted that multiple new committee members appointed on June 11 have voiced anti-vaccine views that are not evidence-based.

Abram Wagner of the University of Michigan’s school of public health, who investigates vaccination programs, said he’s not satisfied with the composition of the committee.

“The previous ACIP was made up of technical experts who have spent their lives studying vaccines,” he said. Most people on the current list “don’t have the technical capacity that we would expect out of people who would have to make really complicated decisions involving interpreting complicated scientific data.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.