Australia is seeing a rise in a new Covid-19 variant known as LP.8.1, which now accounts for nearly 20% of cases in New South Wales, making it the third most common strain in the state, according to SBS News.
First detected in July 2024, LP.8.1 is a descendant of the Omicron subvariant KP.1.1.3, which itself traces back to JN.1—a strain that drove large infection surges globally in late 2023 and early 2024.
The World Health Organization (WHO) labeled LP.8.1 a “variant under monitoring” in January 2025 due to its rapid spread, but has assessed its global public health risk as low. The variant does not appear to cause more severe symptoms than other existing strains.
Australia has reported approximately 45,000 Covid-19 cases so far in 2025, though actual numbers may be higher due to reduced testing and reporting. Currently, about 260 people are hospitalized with the virus.
Existing Covid-19 vaccines, especially those updated for JN.1, are still expected to provide solid protection against LP.8.1, both for symptomatic and severe illness.
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