England has identified its first cases of a new Covid-19 variant, according to UKHSA. The agency has reported that 13 cases of the NB.1.8.1 Covid strain have been confirmed in England, with a few additional cases found elsewhere in the UK.
However, the exact number of infections in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland remains unclear. Since being identified in January 2025, this omicron subvariant has spread internationally, appearing in parts of the United States, Australia, Thailand, and has become the most widespread strain in China and Hong Kong.
Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director at UKHSA, noted that there is no current evidence suggesting NB.1.8.1 causes more severe illness than previous variants.
The World Health Organization has categorised it as a “variant under monitoring,” making up approximately 10.7% of sequenced cases globally. Although initially detected in early 2025, GISAID data indicates the earliest documented cases date back to late April.
