A new COVID variant - NB 1.8.1 - is creeping across California; here are the symptoms to watch for, and vaccinations you'll need to take.

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is closely monitoring the emergence of a newly identified SARS-CoV-2 variant, NB.1.8.1, a sublineage of the Omicron family. This variant was first identified in January 2025 and has rapidly spread across Asia and into other regions,

One of the latest to appear on the radar is NB.1.8.1 – a name that you may have seen pop up in headlines and on social media feeds this week. This newly emerging sub-variant hasn’t triggered widespread concern,