Rising Covid cases push experts to seek sewage surveillance
Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
New Delhi: As Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the country, experts have called for intensified waste water-based epidemiological surveillance and genome sequencing to detect outbreaks and assess threats faster. This was stressed at a meeting held by the network of laboratories, which was set up to monitor genomic variations of the Covid-19 virus in India, last week, people familiar with the development told ET.The meeting was attended by public health experts, officials from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and epidemiologists among others."The ongoing situation requires constant vigilance and India can't afford to be complacent," an expert who attended the meeting said on condition of anonymity.Sewage water analysis helps detect Covid-19 variants much before they show up in clinical tests, the expert said.Anurag Agrawal, dean, biosciences and health research, at Ashoka University, said surveillance of public health and pathogen genomics will help assess threats better.Experts believe that India could see an increase in flu-like cases in the next few months.Elderly people and those with compromised immunity should be the most careful. "They should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks and maintaining good hygiene," one of the sources said.According to the health ministry's Covid-19 dashboard, 203 new cases have been added since Sunday, taking the number of active cases in the country to 3,961. Four new deaths have been reported-one each in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala- taking the death count since January 1 to 32."So far, it has been seen that the fatality was due to other issues and perhaps Covid-19 was incidental, meaning that people who died did not die due to Covid-19," a government official said.While the latest outbreak poses little threat, it's important to keep a strict vigil and watch out for any "clustering or unusual pattern," the official added. A new variant of the coronavirus-NB 1.8.1-has been detected in various parts of the World, including India.The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated it as a ' variant under monitoring '.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Covid cases in India: Coronavirus cases cross 4,500; Kerala tops chart
India has reported a total of 4,866 active Covid-19 cases as of June 5, 2025, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Kerala leads the chart with 1,487 cases, followed by Delhi (562), and West Bengal (538). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The complete state-wise count includes Rajasthan (103), Maharashtra (526), and Gujarat (508), Karnataka (436), Tamil Nadu (213), Uttar Pradesh (198), Haryana (63), Bihar (31), Madhya Pradesh (30), Odisha (18), Punjab (16), Andhra Pradesh (50), Telangana (3), Jharkhand (8), Assam (8), Goa (8), Chhattisgarh (19), Uttarakhand (6), Sikkim (9), Jammu & Kashmir (5), Chandigarh (2), Puducherry (17), Himachal Pradesh (1). Seven regions — Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands — have reported zero active cases. . Covid fatalities, however, underline a clear trend — people with pre-existing health problems remain highly vulnerable. In Delhi, a five-month-old infant with multiple health issues and an 87-year-old man with several chronic conditions died. Karnataka reported the deaths of a cancer patient and another with severe abdominal complications. Maharashtra recorded three deaths, including elderly patients with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and organ failure. Globally, China, Singapore, Taiwan, and United States have reported the highest number of cases.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
COVID 19 Cases in India: Active Cases Rise To 4866, Delhi With 562 Cases- Kerala Leading The Chart With 1487 Cases
COVID-19 Cases Rising In India Highlights: India is once again witnessing an unsettling rise in COVID-19 cases, with the number of active infections climbing to 4866, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's latest update as of 8:00 AM IST, June 5, 2025. Leading the current spike is Kerala pushing its active caseload to 1487, nearly half of the country's total. Meanwhile, West Bengal added 106 new cases, increasing its active tally to 538, while the national capital Delhi recorded 105 new infections, taking its active cases to 562. As per May 2025 classifications by the World Health Organization (WHO), subvariants LF.7 and NB.1.8.1 are categorized as Variants Under Monitoring, meaning they are not yet deemed as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest. However, these strains are suspected to be contributing to the rising infections not just in India but also across China and other parts of Asia. Despite the emergence of new subvariants, the JN.1 strain remains the most dominant, accounting for a staggering 53% of all positive cases across the country. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a case of NB.1.8.1 was detected in Tamil Nadu in April, while four cases of LF.7 were identified in Gujarat earlier this month. With the virus subtly shifting form and symptoms evolving, health authorities are urging the public to maintain precautionary measures, including hygiene, mask use in crowded places, and timely testing. Although hospitalisation remains low, experts warn that complacency could reverse progress. Stay informed, and if you're experiencing mild symptoms like fatigue, a sore throat, or gastrointestinal discomfort, it's best to test early and isolate to prevent further spread.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
TTD issues Covid alert in Tirumala
TIRUMALA: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has sounded a COVID-19 alert on Wednesday, urging both employees and visiting pilgrims to follow precautionary measures in view of rising cases. On Wednesday evening, the TTD administration issued an emergency circular to all department heads and staff, directing strict implementation of health and safety guidelines issued by the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare. The circular emphasised enhanced vigilance in high-traffic areas such as queue complexes, accommodation blocks, and other public spaces within the Tirumala temple premises. It also called for the immediate suspension of mass gatherings, including prayer meetings, parties, and social functions. Elderly individuals and pregnant women have been advised to take extra precautions in view of Covid resurgence.
