GENEVA — The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that a new COVID-19 variant, designated NB.1.8.1, may be contributing to rising case numbers in parts of the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and western Pacific regions.

Detected in mid-May in nearly 11% of globally sequenced samples, the NB.1.8.1 variant has also surfaced in U.S. airports, identified in travelers arriving from affected regions to states including California, Washington, Virginia, and New York.

The WHO has classified the variant as a “variant under monitoring,” stressing that it currently poses a low public health risk.

Initial data indicate that existing vaccines remain effective, and no evidence suggests the strain causes more severe illness than previous variants.

Meanwhile, the dominant global variant remains LP.8.1.

The rise in cases coincides with a controversial policy shift in the United States. On Tuesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer recommended for healthy children or pregnant women.

The decision has sparked debate among public health experts who warn against loosening vaccine guidelines amid rising variant activity.

WHO emphasized ongoing surveillance and urged countries to remain vigilant, particularly where case numbers and hospitalizations are beginning to climb. — Agencies