{"id":214203,"date":"2025-06-25T21:50:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T21:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/214203\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T21:50:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T21:50:12","slug":"nimbus-variant-nasty-symptoms-of-new-covid-strain-as-latest-wave-hits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/214203\/","title":{"rendered":"Nimbus variant: Nasty symptoms of new Covid strain as latest wave hits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Covid is making a comeback, driven in part by the fast-spreading Nimbus variant that brings unusual symptoms.<\/p>\n

18:13, 25 Jun 2025Updated 19:01, 25 Jun 2025<\/p>\n

\"TheThe new variant, officially named NB.1.8.1 but dubbed ‘Nimbus’, has already been detected in Northern Ireland(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Covid<\/a> is creeping back – and a new strain now sweeping across the UK and Ireland is bringing nasty and unexpected symptoms that some people could easily mistake for other illnesses.<\/p>\n

The variant, officially named NB.1.8.1 but dubbed ‘Nimbus’, has already been detected in Northern Ireland<\/a>. Nimbus has now been added to the World Health Organization’s watchlist, after global numbers went from just 2.5% in March to over 10% by late April.<\/p>\n

Latest data from the Public Health Agency<\/a> has reported seven cases of the new strain<\/a>, named NB.1.8.1, in the past eight weeks. In its latest respiratory surveillance report from June 18, the PHA says that during week 24 of 2025 (June 9 – 15), Covid-19<\/a> levels increased with 137 unique episodes identified compared with 108 in week 23.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Key sign you have Covid not hay fever as new NB.1.8.1 strain hits NI<\/a>READ MORE: Nimbus Covid: Everything you need to know about highly transmissible new strain <\/a><\/p>\n

The highest Covid-19 episode rate in week 24 was in the 75+ age group (33.0 per 100,000 population). Ards and North Down had the highest episode rate in week 24 (11.6 per 100,000 population). In week 24, there were 1,449 Covid-19 tests, 148 of which were positive (10.2% positivity). This is higher than week 23 (7.6% positivity). There was one Covid-19 outbreak reported in a care home setting.<\/p>\n

In the 8 weeks from April 14 to June 8, 119 Covid-19 samples were sequenced. Of these, 8 were NB.1.8.1 (6.7% of all sequenced samples). Due to small numbers of samples sequenced, the PHA says the level of confidence in precision of the estimate is low, and the percentages of each variant may change as further results become available.<\/p>\n

While the new strain doesn’t appear to cause more severe illness, experts fear it may be more contagious, and its symptoms are catching many people off guard, the Irish Mirror reports<\/a>. While older variants typically presented like a bad cold or flu, NB.1.8.1 is now being linked to stomach-related issues, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, abdominal pain and even heartburn.<\/p>\n

Dr Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Virology Research Leader at Griffith University, explained: “Common symptoms [of NB.1.8.1] include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases.”<\/p>\n

Symptoms of Covid can include:<\/p>\n