New 'razor blade throat' COVID subvariant quickly gains ground in California

[Demovictory9]

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/razor-blade-throat-covid-subvariant-california-20381353.php

A new COVID-19 variant, nicknamed Nimbus, is rising around the world — including in California — and known for giving “razor blade throat” symptoms.

Officially called NB.1.8.1, the variant was labeled a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization on May 23, according to a recent report. That means it’s not currently a major threat; however, it’s spreading fast enough to raise flags. As of late April, it made up 10.7% of global COVID-19 samples, a jump from 2.5% just a month earlier.

The variant was first spotted in January and carries several genetic changes, particularly in the spike protein, the part of the virus that helps it infect human cells. Some of those changes might help it spread more easily or avoid the body’s immune response, especially in those who were previously infected or vaccinated.


------------

Reports of severe sore throat symptoms — described by some as feeling like swallowing shards of glass — have drawn attention in recent weeks, but Chin-Hong emphasized that this isn’t a new development.

[Layzeebeaver]

1. Need to find my bottle of lidocaine spray...

I hate razor blade throat.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. I love that stuff. Lidocaine lozenges are great, too. ❤️

[Demovictory9]

4. sore throats are the worst

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. I can, and unfortunately have, managed a lot of pain in my life.

I'm a baby when it comes to sore throats.

[Iris]

6. Agreed. And I've found that I can tell a covid sore throat immediately

It's the one "tell" I follow that leads me to test.

[Person of Interest]

9. I agree...

A sore throat is the worst symptom I get from the "common cold" or "seasonal flu". I can't imagine how much worse it is with an severe respiratory infection like COVID!!

We're just entering the summer months. If Nimbus continues to spread it may be fall blown pandemic again by the fall or winter!

[BoRaGard]

3. "We recommend culling the herd." - Brainworm Bobby (R)

[Dorian Gray]

7. Covid is around

unfortunately. People here in NYC mostly treating it like a bad cold. My daughter had her annual physical lat month, and the doctor recommended a covid shot for her (it's been over two years and she was worried they wouldn't be available to kids for much longer). So we did. And then I learned about three friends who had covid shortly after.

Here's to keeping healthy and no razor blade throat!

(It does seem like for those of us who have been vaccinated and have some immunity, covid's effects are mainly minimal. But I'm wary for severely unhealthy people. My MIL has COPD and we stay away from her with every sniffle.).

[raccoon]

8. Damn, why can't they give it a better name,?

Like what are those names with numbers and letters that don’t mean anything and sre hard to remember?

[purple_haze]

10. Large groups of gathering people

will not help quell the spread.

[Wednesdays]

19. Such as protests?

You don't like that, do you.

[purple_haze]

21. I don't really care either way to be honest

But I definitely don't like razor blades in my throat.

[ITAL]

11. I wonder if it wasn't originally picked up

By covid tests. A few months ago my wife and I were sick as hell. It was as bad an illness as I've had in about thirty years, and it took me about 10-11 days to kick. However, we both tested negative for the flu and covid.

[Iris]

13. I remeber that happening to some people last summer

[Siwsan]

14. I still wear a mask when I'm in the stores

For one thing, I haven't had a cold in over 4 years. Also, having a vaccination denier, road kill eating heroin addict with a history of brain worms being in charge of Health and Human Services pretty much means I have to look after myself, even if I do look silly. (Although I always see others wearing masks, too.)

Also read that latest Surgeon General nominee's brother is one of Road Kill Kennedy's advisors. Let's face it - we're on our own, now.

[flamingdem]

17. Agree 100%

Mask in sprite of side eye from others. Especially if you're over 65. The majority of deaths occur in that group. Several hundred are still dying every week from Covid and the summer surge is just starting.

[flamingdem]

15. Be smart and wear a mask

in crowded places.

It might save your health and even your life!

[Paladin]

16. I'm sure rfk jr will make it all better.

If and when his brain worm gives him permission to do so.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. Just need more cod liver oil

And a swim in shit creek

[Rebl2]

18. I wonder

If I had this back in March of this year. I had what I thought was a head cold in March, and had a sore throat for about five days that felt like what is described. I then lost my sense of taste and have only had it back for about a month. Never occurred to me I might have Covid until I lost my sense of taste because it just didn’t seem that bad except for the sore throat.

[Raine1967]

20. I got covid last June.

These were my exact symptoms.