COVID-19 Variants Continue to Challenge Health Systems

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that new COVID‑19 variants are putting renewed pressure on global health systems despite the pandemic’s emergency phase being officially over. According to its latest Disease Outbreak News, testing positivity rates are climbing again in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific — driven in part by the rise of a variant under monitoring called NB.1.8.1.WHO’s 13 February 2025 epidemiological update noted that several variants — including XEC and LP.8.1 — are increasing in prevalence, indicating that the virus continues to evolve and evade prior immunity. While current vaccines remain effective at protecting against severe disease, WHO experts emphasize the need for stronger surveillance, hospital readiness, and robust genomic sequencing to catch and respond to new variants early.Health authorities in Africa and other regions are echoing the call for vigilance. In a statement, WHO urged countries to maintain strong systems for tracking the virus, early detection, and robust healthcare capacity, especially as variants like NB.1.8.1 gain ground. Genomic sequencing and variant reporting remain critical tools in managing the ongoing risk.
Experts warn that the evolving variant landscape could lead to localized surges in hospitalizations, particularly in settings where surveillance and health system resilience are weak. In response, WHO continues to recommend vaccination — especially for high-risk groups — and stresses that health systems should not let their guard down.