Several cases of the new COVID-19 variant– which has been linked to a large surge of viral infection in China– have been detected at US airports, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cases linked to the NB.1.8.1 variant of COVID-19 were detected through the CDC’s airport screening program in foreign travellers arriving at airports in Washington state, California, the New York City area and Virginia, according to CBS News.
According to data available on the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), most of the cases are stemming from travellers from countries, including Japan, South Korea, France, China, and others. The testing was done between April 22 and May 12.
Moreover, cases of the NB.1.8.1 variant have also been reported in other US states, including Ohio, Rhode Island and Hawaii, the CBS report said. These cases are reportedly separate from the airport cases.
Health authorities in the US are now closely monitoring the variant, which is now dominant in China and is on the rise in parts of Asia, including Hong Kong, where Covid-19 cases have climbed to the worst levels seen in at least a year.
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