'Razor Blade Throat' COVID Subvariant Emerges: What To Know In NY

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

The subvariant of Omicron, called "Nimbus" (NB.181) by researchers, has seen a sharp rise in cases in some states, and now accounts for an estimated 37 percent of cases nationwide, according to CDC data collected over two weeks starting on June 7. The ominous nickname emerged after some patients described a sore throat with pain similar to their throat being lined with shards of glass.

The variant has been reported in New York, Newsweek reported.

New York state does not yet have data on "Nimbus" cases, as the most recent data collection on COVID variants came May 31. The previous two weeks from May 31, the XFG variant accounted for 77.8 percent of coronavirus cases in New York, according to New York State Department of Health data.

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.”

Coronavirus cases in New York have been on a decline since April, according to New York State Health Department data.

Experts believe that could change because of summer travel.

“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.”

The seven-day average Emergency Department visits in New York, as of June 9, are 13,219, according to state data. Coronavirus-related visits account for less than 1 percent of that figure. Again, the figure is for all coronavirus cases and not just the new variant.

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.

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

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 Associated Press contributed to this report.