‘Razor Blade Throat’: The Painful New Face of COVID

A new COVID-19 variant known as NB.1.8.1 or “Nimbus” is gaining attention for causing intense sore throats—earning it the nickname “razor blade throat” COVID.

First identified by doctors in the U.K. and India, the variant has been linked to a recent rise in global cases, particularly across Southeast Asia, the eastern Mediterranean, and the western Pacific.

It accounted for nearly 11% of sequenced cases by mid-May, with U.S. airport screenings detecting it in travelers to California, Virginia, New York, and Washington.

While the World Health Organization does not see the variant as more severe and expects current vaccines to remain effective, it continues to monitor Nimbus closely.