COVID-19, new Nimbus variant is causing concern

The World Health Organization has issued a formal warning regarding the new strain of the virus, which has been designated Nimbus (COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1). This variant has been classified as a Variant under Monitoring (VUM) and has been detected in 10.7% of global sequences reported in mid-May. The increase in cases has been observed mainly in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific regions. As demonstrated by the data available from sentinel sites, there is clear evidence of a global trend in the activity of Sars-CoV-2. The WHO has recommended that member states continue to apply an integrated and risk-based approach to the management of the ongoing Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This includes the recommendation of vaccination as a key tool to prevent severe disease and deaths due to the virus, especially among at-risk groups.