The Director General of the National Center for Pharmacovigilance, Riadh Daghfous, stated on Monday that Tunisia has developed “good” acquired immunity against COVID-19, and that the emergence of the new variant, “Nimbus”, does not pose a threat to the country.
In a statement to the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency, Daghfous explained that the new variant is not a cause for concern, especially as its symptoms are milder—even milder than seasonal viruses—and it does not appear capable of triggering severe waves of infection. He also confirmed that Tunisia has not recorded any cases of this variant to date.
Immunity built through infections and vaccination
Daghfous stressed that Tunisia’s acquired immunity resulted from infections recorded since the emergence of COVID-19 in March 2020, and was further strengthened through national vaccination campaigns.
He added that data from the reference laboratory at Charles Nicolle Hospital indicated a significant decline in the spread of COVID-19 in Tunisia, particularly over the past year and the current one. The country is now recording an average of only one or two cases per week.
No new cases in four weeks
According to Daghfous, Tunisia has recorded zero COVID-19 cases for nearly four consecutive weeks, placing it outside the recent waves of infection observed in several European countries.
Caution advised for seasonal viruses and chronic patients
However, Daghfous noted that acquired immunity to COVID-19 has not prevented the widespread circulation of seasonal viruses, which in many cases have led to hospitalizations, especially among individuals with chronic illnesses. He urged vulnerable groups to remain vigilant against both COVID-19 and seasonal respiratory viruses.
About the “Nimbus” variant
The new COVID-19 variant, known as “Nimbus” and scientifically classified as N.B.1.8.1, is a sub-lineage of Omicron. It first appeared in January 2024 in China, and spread to several European countries between March and April 2025.
Currently, the global prevalence of this variant is estimated at around 10%, compared to only 2% about a month ago. Despite its growing presence, health experts, including Daghfous, emphasize that it does not present a serious threat, particularly in countries like Tunisia with high levels of community immunity.
Source: TAP (Tunis Afrique Presse)
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