Uptick in global cases of new COVID-19 variant, and other health stories
Existing vaccines and boosters are still expected to offer strong protection against COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1. Image: Unsplash/Viktor Forgacs
Shyam Bishen
Head, Centre for Health and Healthcare; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum- This global round-up brings you health stories from the past fortnight.
- Top health news: WHO adds NB.1.8.1 to COVID-19 watchlist; Key takeaways from WHA78; Could an experimental drug offer a breakthrough in pain management?
1. COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 now under WHO monitoring
A newly emerging COVID-19 variant is gaining ground globally and has been classified as a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization (WHO). NB.1.8.1 now accounts for over 10% of infections across multiple regions, including Europe, Asia and North America, and is the dominant strain in China and Hong Kong.
What does that mean?
Preliminary data suggest NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially evade certain immune defences, the WHO says. Symptoms remain similar to those of recent Omicron variants – such as fatigue, fever, sore throat and congestion, with occasional gastrointestinal issues, reports The Guardian.
But, so far, there’s no indication that the variant causes more severe illness. Existing vaccines and boosters are still expected to offer strong protection against serious disease, though early studies suggest a slight drop in antibody effectiveness.
Health authorities urge continued genomic surveillance and encourage all eligible individuals to stay up to date with vaccinations.
This comes as the US Food and Drug Administration announced plans to require new clinical trials for annual COVID-19 booster approval in healthy Americans under 65, effectively limiting boosters to older adults and high-risk groups, according to Reuters.
2. WHA78: Funding boost and new health targets agreed
The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) concluded in Geneva on 27 May 2025, following nine days of deliberation under the theme 'One World for Health'. Delegates from WHO Member States examined over 75 agenda items covering the full spectrum of global health priorities.
The Assembly saw agreements and resolutions on topics including pandemic preparedness, sustainable financing, non-communicable diseases, climate and health and emergency response.
These were the key areas covered:
- 124 countries formally adopted a new pandemic agreement, a legally binding framework aimed at improving equity and access during future health emergencies, including a 20% set-aside of key medical products for low-income countries. The US will not be part of the agreement as the country has withdrawn from the WHO.
- Consultations on the related Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system will continue over the next year.
- WHO funding reforms moved forward, with a second 20% increase in assessed contributions approved, and $210 million pledged during the Assembly’s Investment Round – bringing total commitments to almost $2 billion.
- New resolutions were adopted on lung and kidney health, rare diseases (affecting over 300 million people), global health financing, and the elimination of lead exposure.
- A target was set to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040.
- Emergency response efforts were reviewed, with the WHO having supported 89 countries across 51 emergencies in the past year, reaching 72 million people – nearly 60% of emergencies were linked to climate-related events.
The Assembly also reviewed progress on emergency preparedness frameworks, health system resilience, and the implementation of international health regulations in response to disease outbreaks and climate-related events.
The World Economic Forum’s first Annual Health Roundtable at #WHA78 in Geneva united leaders from various sectors to rethink global health, focusing on AI, biotech, climate risks and proactive care models. Emphasizing collaboration, innovation and localized strategies, participants called for urgent, coordinated action to build resilient, inclusive health systems and close critical access gaps worldwide.
3. News in brief: Health stories from around the world
As geopolitical instability strains health financing, there’s growing momentum to reform the global health architecture. Writing for Wellcome, policy advisor Dr Fabian Moser highlights the urgent need for more reliable and effective funding systems, particularly for low-income countries that depend heavily on external support. While past decades saw rising donor investment and major progress, including a halving of newborn deaths, today's uncertainty presents both a challenge and an opportunity to rebuild a more resilient, inclusive funding model, he says.
Eating foods that reduce inflammation could help people with advanced colon cancer live longer, according to new research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. The study analyzed the diets of over 1,600 patients with stage three colon cancer and suggests that lifestyle changes may influence outcomes, even in later stages of the disease, reports NBC.
New UKHSA data shows syphilis cases in England rose by 2% in 2024, continuing a long-term upward trend, reports the BBC. While gonorrhoea diagnoses have dipped overall, health officials warn of a concerning increase in drug-resistant cases. The NHS has launched the world’s first gonorrhoea vaccine programme, targeting those most at risk.
Postmenopausal women with breast cancer who used vaginal estrogen creams had better survival outcomes and lower risk of recurrence, a large US study has found. Once thought risky, the creams - used to ease menopause symptoms like vaginal dryness - were linked with improved prognosis, offering reassurance to survivors seeking relief.
Doctors have created an AI tool that predicts which men with prostate cancer will benefit from a treatment that can halve the risk of death, reports The Guardian. The technology aims to personalize care and improve survival rates for the most common cancer in men worldwide.
What is the World Economic Forum doing to improve healthcare systems?
Scientists in Melbourne have developed an mRNA-based method to expose HIV hiding inside human cells. The study, published in Nature Communications, could help researchers target and eliminate the virus more effectively, moving closer to a cure.
A new drug may offer powerful pain relief without the addictive side effects of opioids. By targeting a specific pain-relief pathway, it avoids the euphoric 'high' linked to addiction and could enhance the effectiveness of opioids at lower doses, reports Science Daily.
4. More on health from Forum Stories
Women’s health must be addressed holistically across the life course, with integrated, gender-sensitive policies and data systems. As global health systems face mounting pressures, this article urges leaders not to settle for small, siloed fixes - but to pursue ambitious, scalable solutions. It highlights stories of real progress, showing that even amid constraints, meaningful advances in gender equality and women’s well-being are not only possible – they're essential.
Researchers from MIT, the University of Denver and menstrual health app Clue analyzed data from over 2 million menstrual cycles across 210 cities in the US, Mexico and Brazil. Their study found that long-term exposure to higher pollution levels is linked to more frequent irregular menstrual cycles, while short-term exposure showed no clear effect. Watch this video to learn more:
