New COVID-19 Wave Due to NB.1.8.1 Variant in Hong Kong Triggers Rise in Deaths and Severe Cases Among Elderly and Children
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 16, 2025 12 hours, 6 minutes ago
Medical News: COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Surge Again in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is facing another sharp resurgence of COVID-19 infections, with health authorities reporting a troubling spike in both infection rates and severe cases, especially among the elderly and vulnerable children. Over the past month, the city has seen a dramatic rise in the number of patients requiring hospital care, alongside a significant increase in COVID-related deaths—the worst figures since August of last year.
New COVID-19 Wave Due to NB.1.8.1 Variant in Hong Kong Triggers Rise in Deaths and Severe Cases
Among Elderly and Children
According to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), the proportion of respiratory samples testing positive for COVID-19 has jumped to 13.7 percent, up from just 6.2 percent four weeks earlier. This
Medical News report highlights that such numbers mark the highest recorded positivity rate in more than a year, signaling a possible new wave of infections fueled by ongoing community transmission.
Spike in Severe Cases and Deaths Linked to New SARS-CoV-2 Variant NB.1.8.1
In just four weeks, Hong Kong recorded 81 severe adult COVID-19 cases, of which 30 resulted in death. An overwhelming 83 percent of these severe cases were among patients aged 65 or older, and over 90 percent had pre-existing health conditions. Doctors and officials are warning that these increases are due to the new predominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant called NB.1.8.1.
Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch at the CHP, warned that recent weeks have shown a sharp increase in fatalities, from just three last month to 26 this month. Most of the deceased and severely ill were either residents of elderly care homes or people with chronic illnesses who were inadequately protected by recent vaccinations.
Health authorities also noted that 32 separate COVID-19 outbreaks had occurred across elderly care homes between April 20 and May 10, infecting 177 residents. In just the first two days of this week, five additional outbreaks were reported, affecting another 23 residents.
COVID-19 Also Hitting Hong Kong’s Youngest Residents
While the elderly remain the most vulnerable group, the current COVID-19 wave has also affected children. Two serious pediatric cases were reported recently, one involving a 17-month-old girl who was unvaccinated and is now in critical condition. She was diagnosed with COVID-19, adenovirus, and rhinovirus, complicated by croup, and admitted to Queen Mary Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit.
The second case is a 13-year-old girl with underlying health conditions who had received the COVID-19 vaccine. She developed severe pneumonia after testing positive and was admitted in serious condition
Sewage Data and Viral Load Point to a Severe Wave
The CHP’s sewage surveillance has added further evidence of high community transmissi
on. Data for the 18th week of the year indicated a viral load of nearly 700,000 gene copies per liter—far surpassing the 400,000 peak recorded in March 2024. This figure confirms that the virus is spreading more extensively than it did during the last major wave.
Professor Lau Yu-lung, chairman of the government’s Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and a professor at the University of Hong Kong, explained that the decline in fatality and severity is likely due to repeated exposures helping the immune system adapt.
According to Lau, the body’s T-cells—immune memory cells—continue to build better protection over time, even as antibody levels from vaccinations or past infections wane. He stated that “subsequent infections tend to be milder,” and many people might become asymptomatic after several rounds of exposure. However, he stressed that this should not encourage complacency, especially among high-risk groups.
Urgent Calls for Precautionary Measures
Lau also recommended that high-risk individuals continue wearing masks in crowded places to protect themselves from infection. He emphasized that while the general population may not require masks at all times, vulnerable people must still take precautions as the virus continues to circulate in the community.
Conclusion
The current COVID-19 surge in Hong Kong is a stark reminder that the virus remains a serious public health threat, especially to the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and young children. With the virus still actively spreading, staying vigilant through vaccination, regular health monitoring, and protective behaviors is crucial to avoid preventable loss of life and hospitalization. Every infection is not just a number—it has real consequences for families and communities.
References:
https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/covid_flux_week19_15_5_2025_eng.pdf
https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/resources/29/100148.html
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202505/15/P2025051500748.htm
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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