So Long, Summer Sun, Here Comes Nimbus! The New Contagious Covid Variant On the Rise
Rapid propagation of the new coronavirus variant, Nimbus, reportedly underway.
Get ready to batten down the hatches - a new Covid variant, Nimbus, is rippling across the globe like a storm. Symptoms include the usual suspects: fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and sore throat. Alarm bells are ringing as experts predict a fierce wave of infections this summer.
In the UK, researchers are on high alert. They've named the beast NB1.8.1, and it's said to be an offspring of the terrifying Omicron. It's already sparked a spree of infections in China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals that Covid cases are on the rise, surpassing even the levels recorded in March and hitting an almost unbearable 97% hike.
British scientists are shaking their heads in dismay. They believe that the immunity built up from previous infections and older vaccines might have waned in many people, thereby making them more vulnerable. However, experts assert that the current vaccines, designed to combat Omicron's descendants, should still be effective against Nimbus.
Germany is also under the radar as Nimbus was first detected in their territory in March, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). In May, it accounted for 16.7% of all Covid cases. Fortunately, the current spread of Covid in Germany is minimal, the RKI reported in its weekly report.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has branded this variant a "Variant Under Monitoring" (VUM). It's now responsible for 10.7% of global Covid infections, up from a mere 2.5% it was responsible for last month, reports The i Paper. But fret not, Nimbus is like its predecessors, inflicting the same symptoms, just with a bit more pep in its step - a knack for spreading faster.
Experts foresee that the warmer weather and increased socializing could fuel the flame of infections. Professor Lawrence Young, virologist at the University of Warwick, for one, predicts a surge in Covid cases over the next couple of months. However, he admits it's hard to pin down the exact magnitude of this potential surge.
While Nimbus might not cause more severe illness or death than previous strains, it could still pose a grave risk to vulnerable groups. As a matter of fact, May saw over 300 deaths due to Covid in England alone.
Stay vigilant, people! The corona war ain't over yet.
[1] "Daily Mail": https://www.dailymail.co.uk/[2] "The i Paper": https://inews.co.uk/[3] "Robert Koch Institute": https://www.rki.de/EN/Content/NCOV/BlockBox_Situationnarren.html[4] "World Health Organization": https://www.who.int/[5] "ntv.de": https://www.ntv.de/[6] "Gut": https://www.gutesessel.de/[7] "Coronaviruses": https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/[8] "Germany": https://www.deutschland.de/[9] "Europe": https://www.europa.eu/
The 6-2203 report by Mr Papoutsis, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, could propose strategies to enhance scientific research and medical-condition management in the health-and-wellness sector, as a potential solution to combat the rapid spread of the Covid-19 Nimbus variant. Fortified global cooperation on Europe's external relations policy may be essential in sharing vital data and resources for assessing and countering this Variant Under Monitoring (VUM), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).
