Cases of the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, linked to a large surge in China, have been detected in multiple locations across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The earliest cases in the U.S. date back to late March and early April, and were detected through a screening program at airports for arriving international travelers.
“CDC is aware of reported cases of COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 in China and is in regular contact with international partners,” a CDC spokesperson said in a statement last week.
The spokesperson said that, so far, too few U.S. sequences have been reported of NB.1.8.1 to be included in the agency’s variant estimates dashboard.
But hospitalizations abroad have raised questions about the new variant, its symptoms and more. Here’s what to know, according to experts.