A new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 has been linked to a major surge in China. The same has been detected in the United States. As per the airport screenings and state reports, the virus is believed to have arrives via international travelers. The reports are confirmed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) airport screening program which found multiple cases of the new COVID-19 cases.

These cases have now arrived in California, Washington state, Virginia, and the New York City area. The details about the sequencing results have also been published on the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data or the GISAID. It is a virus database that shows the cases that stem from travelers from a number of countries, including Japan, South Korea, France, Thailand, the Netherlands, Spain, Vietnam, China, and Taiwan. The reports have collated data from tests which had been conducted from April 22 to May 12.

What Is This Variant All About?

Think of NB.1.8.1 as the latest addition to the ever-evolving alphabet soup of SARS-CoV-2 variants that warrants close attention. Like fads—whether it’s fidget spinners, finger mustache tattoos, or cup stacking—new variants and subvariants often surge quickly, only to be overtaken by ones that spread even faster. Still, some have proven more troublesome than others.

Global virus tracking, thanks to continued scientific collaboration around the world, shows that the XEC variant I wrote about for Forbes in December 2024 is now mostly declining, with the exception of Japan. As for LF.7, it appears to have already peaked—much like the TV series NCIS.

Currently, the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant across North America, parts of South America, much of Europe, and South Africa is LP.8.1. First identified in September 2024, it began spreading globally by the end of the year and has effectively defined the past winter's wave of infections.

NB.1.8.1 In China

The NB.1.8.1 variant has been associated with a notable increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations in China and Hong Kong, reaching levels not observed in at least a year. In response, Hong Kong authorities have issued public health advisories encouraging the use of face masks in crowded public settings. Similarly, health authorities in Taiwan have initiated precautionary measures, including the stockpiling of vaccines and antiviral medications, to address a growing wave of NB.1.8.1-related cases.

At present, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that NB.1.8.1 leads to more severe clinical outcomes compared to earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, further research is necessary to better understand the characteristics of both NB.1.8.1 and the emerging XFG variant, including their transmissibility, severity, and potential public health impact.

Is China Downplaying The surge?

As per CDC Spokesperson "CDC is in regular contact with international partners and is aware of reported cases of COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 in China". However, the agency's variant estimate dashboard does not include enough reported US sequence of the new variant.

While in Hong Kong, the cases have increased and health officials have advised residents to wear masks in crowded areas and public transit. However, the claim is still that there is no new evidence that the variant is more serious.

Taiwanese health officials have also noted an increase in ER visits with serious illnesses and fatalities.

What Should The US DO?

While the number of COVID-19 cases remains low nationally, health officials are advising Americans to stay vigilant without resorting to panic. Individuals are encouraged to adopt basic preventive measures, especially in crowded or enclosed environments. Wearing masks on public transportation or while traveling is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of transmission.

In preparation for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, external vaccine advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have discussed the necessity of updating COVID-19 vaccines to ensure continued protection against emerging variants.

Tennis great Monica Seles, in an interview with Associated News, recently shared that she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) three years ago. This is the first time she's spoken publicly about the disease, which is a rare condition that causes muscles to become weak.

Seles, who won nine major tennis titles, first noticed something was wrong while hitting tennis balls. She said she started seeing two balls instead of one and felt a sudden weakness in her arms and legs. She also mentioned that simple things like blowing out her hair became very difficult.

Seles said it was hard for her to accept the diagnosis at first. She decided to speak out to help others, hoping her story will bring more attention to myasthenia gravis. Before she got her diagnosis, she had never heard of the condition.

What Is Myasthenia Gravis?

Medscape explains that myasthenia gravis is a chronic neuromuscular disease. This means it's a long-term illness that affects the way your nerves and muscles work together. It causes weakness in the muscles that you can control, such as those in your arms, legs, and face. While it can affect people of any age, it is most common in:

• Young women under 40
• Older men over 60

Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis

The most common symptoms of MG are:

• Visual problems which includes drooping eyelids and seeing double.
• Your muscles might feel weak and tired very quickly, and this can change from day to day or even hour to hour.
• Your facial muscles can become weak, which may make a smile look more like a snarl.
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing, you might also have trouble pronouncing words or swallowing food.
• Weakness in the neck or limbs like your arms, legs, or neck may feel weak

The symptoms of MG can sometimes look like other conditions, so it's always important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. People with MG may experience periods when their symptoms get worse (flare-ups) and periods when they get better (remission), but the condition is rarely cured completely.

How is Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosed?

To figure out if you have MG, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. One key way they test for it is by giving you a specific medicine. If your muscle weakness quickly gets a lot better after taking the medicine, it's a strong sign that you have MG.

Doctors might also use other tests. They can do blood tests to look for certain antibodies that are common in people with MG. They might also use nerve and muscle tests to see how your nerves are sending signals to your muscles and to measure your muscle's electrical activity.

Treatment and Management of Myasthenia Gravis

While there's no cure for MG, the symptoms can be controlled. The main goal of treatment is to make your muscles stronger and prevent problems with breathing and swallowing. Most people with MG can live normal or close-to-normal lives with the right care.

Treatment often includes medicine, such as drugs that control the immune system or help your muscles work better. Sometimes, a doctor may suggest surgery to remove the thymus gland, which can help reduce symptoms for many people. Other treatments, like plasmapheresis, can be used to remove the bad antibodies from your blood.

Can You Prevent Myasthenia Gravis?

To help prevent a myasthenia crisis, you should always take your medicines exactly as prescribed. It can also help to take your medicine 30 to 45 minutes before meals to prevent food from getting into your lungs.

Try to avoid getting sick by staying away from people with colds or the flu, and make sure you get proper nutrition, rest, and manage your stress. It is also very important to always tell your doctors about your MG diagnosis and the medicines you are taking before they prescribe you anything new. Some medicines can interfere with your condition or your treatment.

The most serious complication of MG is a myasthenia crisis. This is when you have extreme muscle weakness, especially in the muscles you need to breathe. This is a medical emergency and may require help from a breathing machine.

Seles, who is 51, said she has learned to live with a "new normal." She sees this challenge as just another "reset" in her life, similar to when she moved to the U.S. as a young teenager or when she was recovering from a stabbing. Her message is one of strength and a reminder to always adjust, just like a tennis player on the court.

For decades, getting vaccinated has meant rolling up your sleeve, bracing for a quick jab, and hoping the soreness fades within a day. But a team of researchers may have just discovered a way to sidestep the needle entirely — by delivering vaccines through something as ordinary as dental floss.

The idea sounds almost too simple: coat floss or a floss pick with a vaccine, thread it between your teeth, and let your gums do the rest. But the science behind it is far from gimmicky. This novel approach targets a unique spot in the mouth called the junctional epithelium, an unusually permeable layer of tissue where the gums meet the teeth. And according to early research, this entry point could unlock stronger protection against respiratory infections — and for some people, make getting vaccinated a far less stressful experience.

Most viruses that wreak havoc on the body, including influenza and COVID-19, first invade through the mucosal surfaces of the mouth, nose, or lungs. Traditional injectable vaccines do an excellent job of generating antibodies in the bloodstream, but they’re less effective at producing antibodies along these mucosal barriers — the body’s first defense line.

Dr. Harvinder Singh Gill, a professor in nanomedicine at North Carolina State University and senior author of the study, explains the advantage: “When a vaccine is given via a mucosal surface, antibodies are stimulated not only in the bloodstream but also on mucosal surfaces. This improves the body’s ability to prevent infection, because there’s an additional line of defense before a pathogen even enters the body.”

That’s where the junctional epithelium comes in. Unlike most epithelial layers that are tightly sealed to keep invaders out, the JE is intentionally “leaky” so immune cells can patrol and defend against the constant barrage of oral bacteria. This leakiness is exactly what makes it an appealing vaccine delivery route.

To test the concept, researchers applied a peptide-based flu vaccine to unwaxed dental floss, then used it to floss the teeth of lab mice. The results were striking. The floss-based delivery triggered far higher antibody responses on mucosal surfaces than the current gold-standard oral method — placing a vaccine under the tongue.

In fact, the immune protection was comparable to delivering the same vaccine through the nasal cavity, which is widely considered the most effective mucosal route. The big difference? Nasal vaccination comes with safety concerns, including the rare but serious possibility that the vaccine could migrate to the brain. The floss technique avoids that risk entirely.

Lead author Rohan Ingrole, who conducted the research during his doctoral studies at Texas Tech University, adds that the method also worked across multiple vaccine types — including protein-based vaccines, inactivated viruses, and mRNA formulations. In each case, the floss delivery triggered robust immune responses both in the bloodstream and across mucosal surfaces.

What Is the Junctional Epithelium?

The JE sits deep in the gum pocket, where it forms a protective seal between the tooth and surrounding gum tissue. Its structure lacks many of the tight junctions found in other mucosal linings, making it easier for molecules — including vaccine antigens — to cross. And because it’s already brimming with immune cells, any antigen that slips through is quickly flagged, sparking an immune reaction.

Delivering a vaccine here isn’t straightforward. The tissue is tucked away and can’t be reached with a simple swab or spray. Dental floss, however, is designed to slip into exactly that space — which is why it’s the perfect vehicle for the job.

Flossing Vaccine Shows Success In Early Human Trials

While full-scale human vaccine trials are still a way off, the researchers ran a smaller test to confirm whether people could successfully target the junctional epithelium using floss picks. They coated floss with fluorescent food dye and asked 27 volunteers to try to deposit the dye into their gum pockets. The results were encouraging: about 60% of the dye ended up exactly where it needed to be.

This success suggests that with the right design, floss picks could be a practical, self-administered vaccine delivery tool — potentially mailed to people’s homes in the future.

Needle-free vaccination is more than just a comfort perk. Globally, needle phobia is a significant barrier to vaccine uptake, even among adults. There’s also the risk of unsafe injection practices, which can transmit blood-borne diseases in settings without strict medical oversight.

A floss-based vaccine could address several of these challenges. It’s simple to administer, doesn’t require a healthcare professional, and could be distributed more easily in hard-to-reach areas. Storage and transport could also be simplified compared to injectable vaccines that require strict cold-chain logistics.

Dr. Gill notes another advantage: eating and drinking immediately after floss-based vaccination doesn’t appear to interfere with the immune response — at least in animal models. That flexibility could make it easier for people to incorporate vaccination into daily routines without major disruptions.

Are There Any Limitations to Such Vaccines?

Despite the promise, this approach isn’t without drawbacks. It wouldn’t work for infants or toddlers without teeth, and it may be less effective for people with gum disease or severe oral infections. Researchers also need to study how different oral health conditions could influence vaccine uptake and immune response.

For now, the team’s next step is to refine the delivery system and begin clinical safety trials. If successful, floss-based vaccines could become an alternative option for seasonal flu shots, pandemic preparedness, and even certain routine immunizations.

The floss vaccine fits into a growing push to move beyond injections. Researchers have explored dissolvable microneedle patches, inhalable vaccines, and even edible vaccine capsules. Each approach aims to make vaccination less invasive, easier to distribute, and more acceptable to populations hesitant about traditional methods.

In this case, the innovation comes from using a tool that people already know and can use on their own. The fact that it could also boost mucosal immunity something standard injections struggle to do — makes it even more compelling.

We’re still years away from picking up a vaccine-coated floss pick at the pharmacy, but the groundwork is being laid. If clinical trials confirm its safety and effectiveness, floss-based vaccination could offer a new, accessible, and needle-free way to protect against some of the world’s most common and dangerous infections.

Dr. Vinay Prasad, who resigned just two weeks ago as head of the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccines and gene therapy division, is returning to the agency in a rare reversal. The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed his reinstatement on Saturday, with spokesperson Andrew Nixon saying Prasad will resume leadership of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA’s request.

Prasad’s ouster in late July followed sustained pressure from biotech executives, patient advocacy groups, conservative figures, and right-wing activist Laura Loomer. Loomer, who has previously demonstrated influence over Trump administration personnel decisions, accused Prasad of being a “progressive leftist saboteur” and, more recently, a “Marxist,” pointing to his past praise for Senator Bernie Sanders.

Resignation Amid Political and Public Backlash

The decision to push him out came after weeks of mounting criticism, fueled in part by a series of editorials faulting him for denying drug approvals and ordering a pause on a medication linked to several patient deaths. Loomer and other critics also drew attention to comments Prasad had made about Donald Trump before joining the administration.

Before his resignation on July 29, both Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary defended Prasad, calling him a scientist of exceptional rigor. Makary publicly described him as “impeccable,” while Kennedy privately noted his preference for Prasad’s cautious approach to vaccine approvals.

A Record of Tough Regulatory Calls

Since joining the FDA, Prasad has drawn attention for decisions that prioritized safety and efficacy over speed. He declined to approve multiple high-profile drugs, including treatments for advanced skin cancer and heart conditions in patients with a rare muscle disorder, arguing that the agency should resist approving high-cost drugs with uncertain benefits.

In May, he played a key role in limiting the use of COVID-19 vaccines to those over 65 and people with health conditions that put them at greater risk of severe illness. Under his leadership, the FDA restricted approvals for new shots from Novavax and Moderna and set stricter testing requirements for future vaccines.

His most controversial move came when he ordered the halt of Sarepta Therapeutics’ gene therapy shipments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy after two teenage boys and a 51-year-old man died in cases deemed related to the medication. The decision met fierce resistance from families of patients and advocates for expanded access to experimental treatments, as well as criticism from political figures and editorial boards. The FDA later reversed the suspension, allowing shipments for younger patients to resume.

A History of Outspoken Criticism

Before his government role, Prasad was an oncologist and epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, where he gained a large following through Substack, YouTube, and other platforms. Known for sharp and sometimes expletive-laced critiques of public health policy, he frequently challenged the FDA’s pandemic-era decisions and called for greater scrutiny of medical products.

His reinstatement underscores the influence Kennedy and Makary still hold within the Trump administration and signals that, despite political headwinds, Prasad’s hardline approach to drug and vaccine oversight will continue to shape U.S. healthcare policy.