Following a fall surge of the COVID variant XEC, which led to flu-like symptoms and "wiping people out," there's a new variant spreading rapidly across the United States: LP.8.1. It now represents the majority of cases.
This SARS-CoV-2 variant LP.8.1 fast-tracked from a fraction of cases in the U.S. in January to nearly half by the end of March, and now it's in the clear majority, the CDC confirms, about 59-70% of U.S. cases. It's global too: Three out of every five patients in the United Kingdom have the LP.8.1 strain, per April 2025 data.
RELATED: New COVID Strain Is "Taking Charge," Doctors Warn.
The LP.8.1 variant traces its origins back to Omicron, per the World Health Organization, and it's now visible across the globe. LP.8.1 was first detected back in July 2024, though it has spread rapidly since January 2025.
This latest variant of COVID can manifest with many of these common COVID symptoms:
- elevated temperature
- fever or chills
- cough
- shortness of breath
- body aches
- headaches
- sore throat
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
Does the vaccine protect against the latest COVID-19 variants like LP.8.1?
According to Hopkins Medicine, those who have the latest COVID-19 vaccine (2024-25) are better protected against variants currently spreading, which include LP.8.1 that was first documented in the summer of 2024. That is because the vaccines are constantly updated to account for these variants.
There is plenty of evidence that the latest COVID-19 vaccine does protect you from severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and everyone who is age 6 months or older is recommended to get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, per the CDC. Over time, your protection from the vaccine diminishes, so getting an updated shot every few years is recommended.
What does the World Health Organization say about LP.8.1?
While it is "growing rapidly" compared to other variants, and is similar to XEC in terms of evading previous immunity, the World Health Organization grades the LP.8.1 as "low" risk overall. One reason for this is that the severity of the variant is much lower compared to earlier outbreaks and most people will not experience anything beyond the kinds of symptoms listed above.
READ: The World Health Organization's 6-page executive report on the LP.8.1 COVID variant [PDF].
