New coronavirus variant in Europe – runny nose, sore throat and other ailments. It can easily be confused with an allergy

A new variant of the coronavirus NB.1.8.1, commonly known as "Nimbus", has emerged. The WHO has placed it on the official watch list due to the growing number of infections and high transmission capacity. Experts reassure that there is currently no evidence of a more severe course of the disease or an increase in hospitalizations. Dr. Krzysztof Urban answers the most important questions.

According to Dr. Krzysztof Urban, a family medicine specialist , Nimbus is a subvariant of Omicron. It was first detected at the beginning of the year in China and India, and in the following months it reached the US and Europe. In the US, it accounts for almost 40% of new Covid-19 cases.

There is currently no extensive testing of coronavirus variants in Poland, so it is difficult to determine how common Nimbus is. However, the epidemiological situation does not differ significantly from other European Union countries.

WHO confirms that Nimbus may be more contagious, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease. Current recommendations on social distancing and mask use remain valid.

Nimbus symptoms resemble those of earlier variants: nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, impaired sense of smell and taste, fever, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea. This wide range of symptoms and varying degrees of their severity make the new Omicron variant easy to confuse with seasonal allergies, which are often characterized by a runny nose, sore throat, intestinal disorders or loss of smell.

Because Nimbus is a close relative of earlier strains, it is assumed that current vaccines remain effective. However, work is underway to adapt them to the changing epidemiological situation.