Posted on: Wed 04-06-2025

The world is once again on edge. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the alarm over NB.1.8.1, a fast-emerging COVID-19 variant already spreading globally and gaining dominance at a worrisome rate. A descendant of Omicron JN.1, this strain is more than a footnote in the pandemic—it’s a potential disruptor with real-world consequences.

Between April 21 and 27 alone, NB.1.8.1 accounted for over 10% of global sequenced cases, a sharp rise from just 2.5% a month earlier. WHO has officially designated it a “variant under monitoring,” a clear sign that this is no harmless mutation. Scientists warn it may have enhanced abilities to evade immunity—whether from vaccines or past infections—and it may spread more efficiently than its predecessors.

Virologist Prof. Lara Herrero from Griffith University puts it plainly: “A person infected with NB.1.8.1 may be more likely to pass it on.” The implication is clear: this virus is moving faster, and more easily—and we may not be ready.

WHO is urging all countries to ramp up surveillance, reinforce vaccination campaigns, and stay ahead of the curve, not behind it. The public, too, must not fall back into complacency. The virus isn’t done with us just yet.

But the danger doesn’t stop with COVID.

In a sobering parallel development, WHO is also spotlighting the devastating toll of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—a lesser-known, yet lethal virus that kills 100,000 children annually, especially in poorer countries. Nearly half of these deaths occur in infants under six months, many of whom never receive timely medical care.

The new WHO position paper on RSV immunisation calls this crisis what it is: a global child health emergency. With over 3.6 million RSV-related hospitalisations in young children every year, this virus is not seasonal trivia—it’s a year-round threat.

In response, WHO is recommending two powerful tools now available to save lives:

• RSVpreF maternal vaccine—to be administered to pregnant women from 28 weeks, offering protection to newborns through passive immunity.
• Nirsevimab monoclonal antibody—a single-dose injection for infants at birth or during early check-ups, designed to offer targeted protection through their most vulnerable months.

These aren’t theoretical solutions. These are real-world interventions that can be deployed now—if governments act, if healthcare systems prepare, and if communities are informed.

Let’s be clear: both NB.1.8.1 and RSV represent twin alerts for public health leadership across all levels. Delay is dangerous. Inaction is deadly. Complacency will cost lives—especially the youngest and most vulnerable.

We are at a pivotal moment again. The decisions we make today—about surveillance, vaccination, maternal health, and childhood protection—will define our outcomes tomorrow.

The message from WHO could not be clearer: Stay alert. Act fast. Protect the future.

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