Health authorities have issued an urgent warning over a newly identified Covid-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, which experts believe may be more infectious than earlier
strains. First detected in January 2025, the variant has since spread to 22 countries, including the UK, where cases have recently been reported in Wales.
NB.1.8.1 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant and has shown a rapid increase in prevalence globally. It now makes up approximately 10.7% of all submitted Covid-19 samples worldwide—up from just 2.5% a month earlier.
The variant has also been identified in popular travel destinations for UK residents such as Thailand, the Maldives, and Egypt. Other countries experiencing rising case numbers include Ireland, the United States, Australia, and various parts of Europe.
