It’s easy to forget, but COVID-19 is still commonplace around the world, and the virus is still mutating, unleashing new variants across the globe. The latest variant, nicknamed Nimbus, that health authorities are keeping an eye on is now spreading rapidly in the United States. And it has a painful new symptom you should be aware of. Here’s what to know about the COVID-19 Nimbus variant. What is Nimbus? Nimbus is one of the latest variants of COVID-19 that health authorities are keeping an eye on. Its lineage designation is NB.1.8.1 and is a subvariant of Omicron. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nimbus was first detected in January 2025. But it has since spread and is likely to become the leading variant of COVID-19 that is circulating around the world. Indeed, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that Nimbus’s spread is making rapid gains in America. For the two-week period ending May 24, Nimbus accounted for about 15% of all reported COVID-19 cases in the country. But by the two-week period ending June 7, Nimbus accounted for 37% of cases. In the same period, the currently dominant LP.8.1 accounted for 38% of COVID-19 cases in America.  ‘Razor blade throat’ and other symptoms Nimbus has several common symptoms, many of which are shared by other COVID-19 variants. According to Today, these symptoms include: Cough Runny nose or congestion Shortness of breath Fever or chills Headache Body aches Fatigue New loss of sense of smell or taste Yet people infected with Nimbus have also reported another symptom—a sore throat. But many who have experienced this symptom say the throat soreness is more intense than what one usually experiences. Some have described the Nimbus sore throat symptom as feeling like you have razor blades in your throat. Because of this, the symptom has been nicknamed “razor blade throat.” However, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, told the San Francisco Chronicle that despite the nickname, a sore throat is actually a common symptom of COVID-19. “Sore throat is a common symptom of COVID and not novel at all, and not associated with any one variant, including NB.1.8.1,” Chin-Hong said. “There has been a range of intensity of sore throat with COVID symptoms all along, including very severe pain.” Which states have Nimbus spread to? CDC reporting of COVID-19’s spread isn’t as robust as it once was, and the agency has not reported exactly which states Nimbus has spread to as of this time. However, as noted by Today, data from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) shows that Nimbus is in at least 14 states. Those states include: Arizona California Colorado New Jersey New York Hawaii Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Ohio Rhode Island Vermont Virginia Washington How can I protect myself against Nimbus? The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is by taking a three-pronged approach, according to the CDC. That includes: Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations Practicing good hygiene Taking steps for cleaner air, including letting fresh air circulate through your house While any new COVID-19 variant no doubt causes anxiety and uncertainty in many, there is good news at the moment: According to the WHO, current data does not indicate that the NB.1.8.1 Nimbus variant leads to more severe illness than other variants currently making the rounds. However, it’s worth pointing out that COVID-19 can still be deadly. According to WHO data, in the last 28 days, 862 people in the United States have died after contracting the disease. Since the start of the pandemic, 1.2 million people in the United States have died due to COVID-19, and 7.1 million people have succumbed to the disease worldwide.