United States: In a revealing sweep of screenings at key American airports, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has pinpointed multiple infiltrations of the new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1 — a strain tightly linked to China’s recent viral swell.
Ginkgo Bioworks, in partnership with the CDC, disclosed that this elusive variant has been unearthed in travelers touching down in California, Virginia, Washington state, and the New York City area. These detections surfaced through robust sequencing protocols and were cataloged within the GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) archives.
Between April 22 and May 12, test samples unraveled a complex patchwork of origin points, tracing back to nations such as Japan, Taiwan, Spain, Vietnam, France, South Korea, and the Netherlands — a clear testament to this variant’s stealthy transcontinental creep, according to CBS News.
Beyond Airports: States Flag Community Cases
Independent of international entry points, states like Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Ohio have also sounded alarms, reporting NB.1.8.1 infections within their borders. California and Washington were among the earliest, registering cases as far back as late March and early April.
