People who are feeling unwell should wear a mask and wash their hands regularly to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to a leading health expert.
Professor Chandima Jeewandara, an expert in Allergy, Immunology, and Molecular Medicine, issued this advice as global cases rise due to a new variant, NB.1.8.1.
The NB.1.8.1 variant, a sublineage of Omicron, was first detected in January 2025 and has since spread to multiple countries.
By mid-May, this variant accounted for approximately 10.7% of COVID-19 cases worldwide.
Symptoms of NB.1.8.1 are similar to earlier COVID-19 strains, including sore throat, fever, mild cough, fatigue, muscle aches, and nasal congestion.
A new and more common symptom observed with this variant is hoarseness, which may help distinguish it from previous strains.
Professor Jeewandara noted that the variant does not appear to cause more severe illness than earlier ones, and most cases remain mild, particularly among the vaccinated.
He emphasized that there is no need for public panic but urged people to stay cautious.
Simple preventive actions like mask-wearing when sick, frequent handwashing, and following official health guidelines are key to minimizing the spread.
The Ministry of Health continues to encourage adherence to these measures to maintain public safety.
