Nigeria, June 1 -- A new COVID-19 strain, NB.1.8.1, which has been linked to an increase in hospitalisations in China, has now been detected in the United States, including among international travellers arriving in major cities such as New York and Washington.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the variant was first detected in the country between late March and early April 2025 through airport surveillance testing, CBS reports.

"CDC is aware of reported cases of COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 in China and is in regular contact with international partners," a CDC spokesperson reportedly said in a statement.

The CDC stated that there are few reported cases for the variant to be fully captured in national estimates...