By mid-May 2025, LP.8.1 accounted for 16.7% of sequenced COVID cases in Europe, highlighting a concerning upward trend.

This variant is characterized by its high transmissibility and a strong ability to evade immunity from previous infections and vaccinations.

Symptoms associated with LP.8.1 infections include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, and headaches.

Experts predict that LP.8.1 cases may continue to rise into late summer and fall, prompting discussions of a new vaccination campaign in Austria.

A new COVID variant, known as LP.8.1, is rapidly spreading across Europe, raising alarms among health officials as the tourist season approaches.

First detected in mid-2024 through wastewater monitoring, LP.8.1 has shown significant growth in prevalence over the past year.

Travelers heading to Austria and Italy are advised to take precautions, as LP.8.1 has been detected in all nine provinces of Austria and is also spreading in Italy.

In response to the variant's spread, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended updating COVID-19 vaccines to better target LP.8.1 for the protection of vulnerable populations.

In Germany, LP.8.1 was first identified between March 24 and 30, 2025, and although it currently accounts for only 15% of cases, its global prevalence has quadrupled in April.