In Ukraine, laboratory confirmed cases of new subvariants of coronavirus Omicron - Nimbus and Stratus. The Ministry of Health has announced this, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
A case of a new subvariant of coronavirus Omicron called Nimbus was detected in the Vinnytsia Region in August, Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) was isolated thanks to sequencing – a laboratory study that allows genetically decoding the virus and identifying which mutations have occurred in the virus genome.
The subvariant of coronavirus Nimbus (NB.1.8.1), as well as the subvariant of coronavirus Stratus (XFG) are currently dominant in the world - they are new mutations of the Omicron strain. Currently, 38 cases of coronavirus Stratus subvariant and one case of subvariant Nimbus have been confirmed in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Health notes that coronavirus mutations are a natural process, a normal evolution of respiratory viruses, which is why approaches to prevention and vaccination, and the composition of vaccines in the world change every season. According to the global classification of the World Health Organization, both subvariants are included in the list as requiring monitoring at the country level.
Due to specific mutations in the spike protein of the subvariants, the virus spreads faster and causes a severe course of COVID-19 in people with weakened immunity, previously vaccinated people can also get sick, however, acquired immunity after vaccination reduces the risk of complications during the disease.
The Nimbus coronavirus subvariant (NB.1.8.1) was first recorded in the world in January 2025, and in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) registered NB.1.8.1 in early spring 2025. According to monitoring data, the subvariant does not cause a more severe course of the disease than previous variants. Usually, its characteristic symptom is an acute sore throat. The remaining symptoms of the subvariant are the same as for other COVID-19 variants: runny nose, fever, cough, headache, fatigue, loss of smell or taste.
The Stratus coronavirus subvariant (XFG) was discovered in the world at the end of January 2025. According to monitoring data, the subvariant does not cause a more severe course of the disease than previous variants. Its characteristic symptom is a hoarse voice, hoarseness. The remaining symptoms of the subvariant are the same as for other COVID-19 variants: runny nose, fever, cough, headache, fatigue, loss of smell or taste.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that vaccination remains the main method of protection to avoid severe disease and complications. In Ukraine, an omicron-specific vaccine is used, which is adapted to protect against the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and its subvariants circulating in the world. Seasonal vaccination remains recommended for people at risk of severe COVID-19.
Revaccination is recommended after 6-12 months:
adults and children with weakened immunity or concomitant or severe chronic diseases;
pregnant women;
people over 60 years of age;
adults and children at risk of severe disease and death from coronavirus infection,
representatives of professional risk groups (doctors, teachers, military).
The need for revaccination is determined by a doctor, taking into account the recommendations approved by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, hospitalization due to coronavirus is rapidly increasing in Kyiv.
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