1.0 Introduction and Statement of Purpose
This public health alert provides healthcare providers and public health officials with critical updates on the emergence of two Omicron subvariants, Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) and Stratus (XFG). The purpose of this document is to disseminate timely information regarding their epidemiological trends, distinct clinical presentations, and observed impact on paediatric populations.
This alert will provide a comprehensive overview of the current epidemiological situation, detail the specific symptomatology associated with each variant, outline updated diagnostic guidelines for paediatric patients, and conclude with key public health recommendations for clinical management and disease prevention. This alert therefore begins with an analysis of the current epidemiological landscape to provide context for the clinical and diagnostic guidance that follows.