Elsewhere, it’s become even more dominant, comprising at least three in five cases in the United Kingdom, for example.

So what is LP.8.1? And is it cause for concern? Let’s look at what we know so far.

An offshoot of Omicron

Specifically, LP.8.1 has mutations at six locations in its spike protein, the protein which allows SARS-CoV-2 to attach to our cells. One of these mutations, V445R, is thought to allow this variant to spread more easily relative to other circulating variants. V445R has been shown to increase binding to human lung cells in laboratory studies.

The proportion of COVID-19 cases caused by LP.8.1 has been rising in New South Wales. Source: The Conversation / NSW Health

Notably, the symptoms of LP.8.1 don’t appear to be any more severe than other circulating strains. And the WHO has evaluated the additional public health risk LP.8.1 poses at a global level to be low. What’s more, LP.8.1 remains a variant under monitoring, rather than a variant of interest or a variant of concern.

In other words, these changes to the virus with LP.8.1 are small, and not likely to make a big difference to the trajectory of the pandemic.

That doesn’t mean cases won’t rise

This is not to say it’s not growing similarly in other states and territories, however, NSW Health publishes weekly respiratory surveillance with a breakdown of different COVID-19 variants in the state.

In some countries it’s climbed particularly high. In the United States LP.8.1 is responsible for 55 per cent of cases. In the UK, where LP.8.1 is making up at least 60 per cent of cases, scientists fear it may be driving a new wave.

Will COVID-19 vaccines work against LP.8.1?

Thomas Jeffries is a senior lecturer in microbiology at the School of Science, Western Sydney University.