<p>In the last several months a Covid-19 variant called LP.8.1 became the dominant version in the U.S, and around the world.</p><p>But World Health Organization is adding a new variant, NB1.8.1 to its watchlist and says it may be driving an increase in cases.</p><p>by mid-May, the new variant had reached nearly 11 % of sequenced samples.</p><p>It's been found in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions and airport screening has detected it arriving in the U.S.</p><p>Doctor Amy Edwards of Case Western Reserve University says NB1.8.1 does not seem to cause more severe illness but more spreading quickly and saying they are seeing a sharp uptick in the hospotalization in China and Hong Kong</p><p>Current vaccines are expected to still be effective.</p><p>I'm Jeniffer King </p>
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