Just before summer, here is the COVIR again to talk about him. The National Reference Center of Lyon, in charge of monitoring emerging variants, identified for the first time in France the NB.1.8.1 of SARS-COV-2. This omicron sub-lineage was detected a few times, both in the hospital.
A new strain of the COVVI-19 spotted in France
“”We found it a little in France, not much, four sequences“said Virologist Bruno Lina on BFMTV, stressing that this strain is circulating in several countries.
NB.1.8.1, still rare in Europe, is at the origin of a marked resurgence of cases in Asia, in particular in Hong Kong, where the circulation rate of the virus has reached an unprecedented level for a year. In Taiwan, the authorities noted an increase in emergency passes and deaths linked to the COVVI-19.
A variant present in Europe… which is circulating little for the moment
Apart from France, sporadic cases have been identified in Germany, Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control). However, the European agency wants to be reassuring: “The level of circulation of variant NB.1.8.1 remains low in 2025 and it is not yet classified as variant under surveillance.“”
However, this virus has worrying characteristics, including an immune escape capacity, that is to say that it could bypass the defenses developed by an earlier infection or by vaccination. In China, some analyzes suggest that NB.1.8.1 “enters the cells faster and reproduces“, Which would give him an advantage of growth, according to Bruno Lina.
“”Do not panic“, tempers Dr. Gérald Kierzek
Do we have to worry about it? Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of True Medical, puts the emergence of this new strain into perspective:
“”The variant NB.1.8.1 is a sub-chicron sub-chick which currently circulates in small proportion in France and elsewhere in Europe“, He retains.
If he admits a possible transmissive advantage, like other omicron sub-variants such as KP.2 or KP.3, nothing indicates increased gravity or an imminent epidemic wave for the moment.
On the immunity side, the doctor recalls that current vaccines continue to protect effectively from serious forms, even if efficiency can decline over time. He recommends that at risk – especially the elderly or immunocompromised – to consult their doctor to consider a possible vaccination recall.
Vigilance without alarm
In a context of persistent circulation of the virus in France – 19 % of the tests proved to be positive last week, according to WHO – Dr. Kierzek insists on the importance of keeping barriers: wearing the mask in crowded closed places, regular ventilation, caution with fragile people. For the moment, no specific measure is envisaged by the health authorities. Variant NB.1.8.1 is the subject of close monitoring by Public Health France and WHO, but no worrying signal has been issued to date.
“”Do not panic“Concludes Dr. Kierzek:”NB.1.8.1 Fits in the continuity of minor omicron changes. The situation could evolve, but at this stage, no major impact is expected.“”