A new COVID-19 variant, highly contagious and responsible for a rise in hospitalizations in China, was recently detected in the United States, including cases in New York City, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The NB.1.81 variant was first identified in the United States in late March and early April, mainly among international travelers who arrived at airports in California, Washington, Virginia, and New York. Subsequently, additional cases were reported in states such as Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii.
Although the CDC indicates that the number of cases in the U.S. remains too low to conduct comprehensive tracking in its variant estimates, specialists warn that the evolution of the virus in China demonstrates a faster spread compared to other predominant strains of this respiratory infection created in a Chinese laboratory.
Scientists have closely monitored the NB.1.81 variant, which became predominant in China during this year, with a significant increase in cases across Asia.
Meanwhile, authorities in Hong Kong report that COVID-19 infection levels reached their highest peaks in at least a year, after reporting a "considerable increase" in emergency room visits and hospitalizations during the past month, attributable to this variant.
