A new strain of the Covid virus that has caused a sharp surge in cases in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong has appeared in .
The variant known as NB.1.8.1 was first recorded on January 21 and placed on the World Health Organization (WHO) watchlist just a few days ago on May 23.
Recent testing of Perth wastewater has shown the variant is now the dominant strain in Western and is likely responsible for the 24 per cent jump in average cases in the state per day last week to 38.
US authorities confirmed the strain had also been detected at airports throughout the country and in the community in Hawaii, Rhode Island and Ohio.
WHO said the strain is more contagious than other variants but does not appear to cause more intense symptoms.
‘Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data does not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation,’ the UN organisation said on Friday.
Symptoms include cough, sore throat, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, blurred vision, fatigue, inability to concentrate, and hyperthermia.
Hong Kong officials said NB.1.8.1 had caused a ‘significant increase’ in cases with the highest levels seen in more than a year, with 81 severe cases in the last month.
In the same period, patients presenting at the ER with Covid in China has doubled, as has the rate of patients hospitalised, which sits at 6 per cent.
Dr. Edwin Tsui, the head of Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP), said that the new variant ‘should not be taken lightly’.
He warned the evidence suggested the virus, which is a descendant of the Omicron strain, could be mutating to be more resistant to vaccines.
‘The CHP will continue to closely monitor the situation of the variant strains in accordance with the World Health Organization’s recommendation, and be cautious of the possible emergence of more virulent or vaccine-mismatched strains of the virus,’ he said in a statement.
In a notice from Hong Kong released last week, officials again urged people to wear face masks in public places if they were at high risk from an infection.
And they urged the public to wear a face mask when travelling on public transportation or staying in crowded areas.
Flu cases are also surging in WA with state authorities urging residents to get a vaccine, especially those who are elderly or have other health issues.
Free flu vaccines are available for anyone aged over 65 including visitors to the state.
The US announced this week it will no longer recommend Covid-19 vaccines for children and healthy pregnant women.