Aug 28, 2025 · Scientists use viruses' genetic sequences (genomic data), combined with observable characteristics (phenotypic data), to determine whether COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines …

As of 25 June 2025, the variants of interest as specified by the World Health Organization are JN.1, and the variants under monitoring are KP.3, KP.3.1.1, JN.1.18, LP.8.1, NB.1.8.1, XEC and XFG.

Jun 23, 2025 · How can you protect yourself from NB.1.8.1 and other variants? The WHO states that currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against the NB.1.8.1 variant.

2 days ago · Learn about the latest COVID-19 variants in 2025, how they spread, symptoms to watch for, and when testing is recommended.

Dec 2, 2024 · When these changes become significantly different to a previously detected virus, these new virus types are known as “variants.” To identify variants, scientists map the genetic material of …

Feb 13, 2025 · In 2024, the world is still grappling with the pandemic. That’s because viruses and pathogens constantly adapt and change. This article explains the dominant variants of COVID-19 in …

Oct 24, 2025 · Concern over variants, sometimes called strains, of the virus that causes COVID-19 is based on how the virus might change. A virus could get better at infecting people, spread faster or …

5 days ago · Get the latest COVID-19 news from infectious diseases expert Mark Rupp, MD, including COVID-19 case rates, types of variants circulating and vaccine updates.

Jun 18, 2025 · Here, you can find out what mutations define a variant, what impact they might have (with links to papers and resources), where variants are found, and see the variants in Nextstrain builds!

Oct 12, 2025 · A strain is when a virus has so many variants that it starts acting differently—for example, it’s much more transmissible than the previous version. All strains are variants, but not all variants …