JOHANNESBURG, June 11 (AGCNewsNet) – South Africa is closely monitoring a newly emerging COVID-19 variant, known as Nimbus (NB.1.8.1), as health officials in Asia report a rise in infections.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told delegates at the ongoing G20 Health Working Group meeting in Johannesburg that the country’s surveillance systems remain “robust” amid concerns over the variant’s spread in India, Thailand, Indonesia, and China.

“Our National Institute for Communicable Diseases manages a comprehensive sentinel surveillance programme that systematically tests for key respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV,” Motsoaledi said on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Nimbus as a “variant under monitoring” due to its growing presence in several countries.

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency has confirmed 13 cases of the variant in England, raising concerns about its transmissibility. While Nimbus is a descendant of the Omicron lineage, there is currently no evidence suggesting it causes more severe illness.

Motsoaledi reassured the public that existing vaccines remain effective against the new strain and said there is no need for additional public health restrictions at this time.

“We are not introducing any new restrictions,” he said, urging citizens instead to maintain basic hygiene practices such as regular handwashing, covering coughs, and staying home when unwell.

The G20 Health Working Group meeting, which runs until Friday, is focused on strengthening global pandemic preparedness, expanding vaccine manufacturing capacity, and improving access to life-saving tools in low- and middle-income countries.

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