Holidaymakers told to wear masks and get jabs as cases of 'new covid' soar

THE VIRUS HAS BEEN DETECTED AT A NUMBER OF HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS AND ONE GOVERNMENT HAS ISSUED AN ALERT 11:47, 02 Jun 2025Updated 13:59, 02 Jun 2025 The government in a UK holiday hotspot has

urged people to wear masks, wash their hands, get vaccinated and avoid activity that could spread Covid as a new variant sends cases rocketing, The World Health Organisation has issued a

warning over the new variant, NB.1.8.1, which has seen cases soar in countries including Egypt, the Maldives and Thailand. The new strain, which is said to be more infectious than previous

variants, has also been found in the US and the UK. Now the government in Thailand has issued a warning after 257,280 cases of Covid and 52 deaths. The latest outbreak has been worst in the

capital Bangkok and in Chonburi Province. Deputy government spokesperson Anukool Pruksanusak said international travel and the oncoming rainy season, could accelerate the outbreaks and the

Ministry of Public Health will monitor the situation closely. Anukool said people should 'limit activities that increase the risk of infection, wash their hands regularly, wear masks in

crowded places, get booster vaccinations when due, and seek medical attention promptly if experiencing symptoms' Cases of the virus have been surging since mid-February and are now at

their highest rate since last June. The WHO says there are higher levels of Covid in 73 countries - including the Caribbean. Article continues below The WHO has designated the new strain

NB.1.8.1 as a 'variant under monitoring' amid concern about the sharp rise in cases. By late April 2025, NB.1.8.1 comprised roughly 10.7% of all submitted sequences – up from just

2.5% four weeks before. It is already the dominant strain in Hong Kong and China. Lara Herrero Associate Professor and Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, at Griffith

University said thanks to multiple mutations the new strain ' may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains'. "But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any

evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants. Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants. "Common symptoms include

sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases." The new strain is being found in large numbers in

the Eastern Mediterranean, an area including the tourist destination of Egypt. It is also being found in South East Asia - including in Thailand and the Maldives. The WHO said recent

increases have also been observed in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. The report reads: "WHO recommends that countries remain vigilant, adapt to evolving epidemiological

trends, and leverage COVID-19 management strategies to strengthen systems for all respiratory disease threats. Member States should continue offering COVID-19 vaccines in line with WHO

recommendations. Article continues below "Based on the current risk assessment of this event, WHO advises against imposing travel or trade restrictions."