COVID cases on rise in India
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From 327 confirmed cases on 19 May, active COVID cases in India have gone up to 1009, as per The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare official data. Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi reported the fastest increase in numbers (420 and 104 active cases respectively) followed by Gujarat which has 83 active numbers as of now. According to the sequenced samples, these fresh cases are being caused by sub variants of the JN.1 variant - both NB.1.8.1 and LF.7.
As COVID-19 cases witness a mild uptick in India, fresh data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) reveals the presence of two new variants — NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, both descendants of the JN.1 lineage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. NB.1.8.1 was found in Tamil Nadu and LF.7 has been found in Gujarat.
WHO is monitoring these variants (variants under monitoring) but they are not yet variants of concern or variants of interest. Last shared by Ministry of Health, JN.1 remains the most prevalent variant in India whose subvariants are NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, followed by BA.2 and other Omicron sublineages.
As per reports, both these variants are more virulent and have a greater ability to surpass immune defences. According to health experts, both NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 do not appear to lead to more severe outcomes compared to earlier Omicron variants. Most people experience mild to moderate symptoms, especially if they are vaccinated or have had COVID before.
Dr. Santosh Kumar Aggarwal, an Internal Medicine specialist, Max Hospital shares there are raising cases of mild respiratory illnesses but he has not tested any patient for COVID and they are recovering on symptomatic treatment only. Dr Sushila Kataria from Medanta agrees. "There are only mild cases so far but it's important to get tested."
What is NB.1.8.1 COVID Variant?
This variant has been found in many regions. Its mutation allows it to spread faster from one person to another. But there is no established evidence that it can cause serious illness.
What is LF.7 COVID Variant?
Like other Omicron-related strains, this variant appears to be highly transmissible. It is able to evade some immunity, especially in people who have not had recent booster shots.
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Top COVID Symptoms To Watch Out For
Symptoms are generally mild to moderate, but it can still pose a risk to older adults or those with underlying conditions.
Having said that, older adults and people with weak immune system or suffering from health conditions can lead to severe illness. The new variants have not been linked to an increase in hospitalisations or deaths so far. However, health agencies continue to watch the situation closely. There are some top symptoms that may not be unique to COVID but are top symptoms.
- Fever accompanied with chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Unexplained fatigue
- Severe body aches
- Headache
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Subtle loss of taste
