Background on the new COVID-19 variant and its impact

A new COVID-19 variant, vaccine changes: What to know in 2025 COVID-19 is remains a public health concern five years after the start of the pandemic. What to know about vaccines, variants and more. Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Greta Cross USA TODAY

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NB.1.8.1 is one of the latest variants of COVID-19, a "slightly upgraded version" of the LP.8.1 variant that is prominent right now, Subhash Verma, microbiology and immunology professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, previously told USA TODAY. For comparison, LP.8.1 made up 70% of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. between April 26 and May 10, as reported by the CDC.

Verma said NB.1.8.1 may be able to be transferred more easily than LP.8.1. Additionally, he said that NB.1.8.1 is able to evade antibodies created by vaccines or past infections more easily than LP.8.1. 

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