A highly transmissible COVID-19 variant behind a rise in cases in China has made its way to the United States, and now attention is starting to focus on whether its symptoms bear any distinctions from numerous other strains.

A new COVID-19 variant is emerging globally and infectious disease experts warn it’s not to be underestimated. On May 23, the World Health Organization officially designated NB.1.8.1 a “variant under monitoring,” according to a risk evaluation of the variant.