A new wave of coronavirus in Britain with the rapid spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant.
June 9, 202562 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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Scientists in Britain have warned of a new variant of the coronavirus known as "Nimbus" (N.B.1.8.1), which is among the most infectious strains to date, amid a concerning rise in cases that have increased by 97% compared to last March.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed that the positive test rate reached 6.1% at the beginning of June, the highest this year, with 13 confirmed cases of "Nimbus" in England, while 25 samples were sent to international databases to monitor the virus's evolution.
Despite the limited number of detected cases, experts suggest that the actual numbers are much higher due to a significant decrease in testing volume since the end of the pandemic, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
* Real threat to vulnerable groups:
The variant "Nimbus," classified by the World Health Organization as a variant "under monitoring," now accounts for 10.7% of global COVID infections, compared to just 2.5% a month ago.
There are concerns that it could lead to a new wave of infections, especially among the elderly and those with chronic illnesses and weakened immune systems, given the declining immunity acquired from previous infections or outdated vaccinations.
* Vaccine efficacy in doubt:
Scientists have confirmed that current vaccines, primarily designed for Omicron variants, may not provide sufficient protection against "Nimbus," although vaccination still reduces the chances of hospitalization by 45% for those who received a booster dose in the spring.
Virologist Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick stated that the new variant "is capable of infecting human cells more efficiently and may be more adept at evading the immune system," expecting an increase in infections in Britain during June and July, especially with rising temperatures and increased social gatherings.
* No evidence of greater severity... but the threat remains:
So far, there is no indication that Nimbus causes more severe symptoms or higher death rates than previous strains.
However, COVID caused the deaths of over 300 people in England in May alone, making the threat real, especially for the most vulnerable groups.
* What are the symptoms of Nimbus?
The symptoms of "Nimbus" are not significantly different from previous variants and include:
_ Fever
_ Fatigue
_ Muscle aches
_ Sore throat
The UK Health Security Agency advises individuals over 75, residents of care homes, and those with weakened immune systems to get the free COVID booster vaccine.
