There is a growing concern about the spread of new COVID-19 variants overseas. While the Omicron subvariant NB.1.8.1 has yet to make a significant impact locally, its rapid spread in parts of Asia and Europe is drawing attention to pandemic fatigue and declining hygiene practices.
“This is happening because people have forgotten about sanitisation and hygiene—all the measures we learned during the COVID period have been abandoned,” says Dr Pallavi Sharma, a Melbourne-based physician. “Everyone is coughing and spluttering without taking any precautions to prevent the spread of infection.”
First detected in India’s Tamil Nadu in April through sample surveillance, NB.1.8.1 has now spread to at least 22 countries. Though early reports suggest the strain is more contagious, it appears to cause only mild, manageable symptoms.
In Australia, authorities are monitoring developments but have made no changes to current health policies. International arrivals are not required to provide proof of vaccination or negative tests, and mask mandates at airports and on flights remain relaxed.
“There is little concern about COVID now because the virus keeps changing every six months,” Dr Sharma explains. “Each time a vaccine is developed, its effectiveness lasts for a maximum of six months, as the COVID strain itself continues to evolve. But that isn’t the primary reason for the current spread. The real issue is that we’ve forgotten the precautions we once followed.”
Across Southeast Asia, COVID cases are steadily increasing. Singapore reported a 28% rise in a single week, while Thailand recorded over 33,000 cases recently. In China, hospitals are again under strain, with variants like XDV and NB.1.8.1 fuelling concern. India, too, is seeing a mild uptick, with 257 active cases and new subvariants, including LF.7, being tracked through wastewater testing.
“In addition to COVID, many other viruses are circulating, such as RSV and influenza—and it’s wintertime, which contributes to the spread,” Dr Sharma adds.
Despite these trends, Australian health authorities have taken a measured stance. The Department of Health and Aged Care continues to emphasise monitoring rather than mandates. There has been no public comment from the Chief Medical Officer regarding NB.1.8.1, though high-risk individuals are encouraged to stay up to date with booster doses.
“We can’t say the new strain is more dangerous—COVID has always posed a serious risk to people with comorbidities, such as those with diabetes or other underlying health conditions,” says Dr Sharma. “Young people with existing illnesses are also more vulnerable. The majority of people over 70 are especially at risk, as their immune systems are more fragile.”
Globally, the World Health Organisation has added NB.1.8.1 to its list of variants under monitoring, noting no evidence of increased severity. While no broad restrictions have been reintroduced in countries like India, Thailand, or Singapore, some airlines have opted to recommend mask use during boarding and disembarkation.
Back in Australia, the message is one of vigilance rather than alarm. Wastewater testing, a key tool in early outbreak detection, is being used internationally to track variant trends. For now, life continues largely as normal—but experts warn that complacency could allow preventable transmission to accelerate.
“We need to remember what we learnt and act with basic precautions,” Dr Sharma urges. “We may be tired of the pandemic, but the virus isn’t done with us yet.”
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