COVID-19: With nine new cases, Karnataka ramps up precautionary measures
Following a gradual rise in COVID-19 cases, the Karnataka government has ramped up precautionary measures, including targeted testing, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Sunday.
With nine new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the total number of active cases in Karnataka increased to 47 on Sunday. Except for one patient who has been hospitalised, all others are being treated at home.
Mr. Rao, who on Sunday reiterated that there is no need to panic at this stage, said that although the variant in circulation is highly transmissible, it is not known to cause severe infection.
With schools and colleges set to reopen soon, the Minister emphasised that the current situation does not warrant any concern or restrictions. 'Officials and experts are constantly monitoring, and decisions on any further measures, if needed, will be taken based on the situation, in consultation with the Central government,' he said.
Addressing the media following the death of an 84-year-old man who had tested positive for the virus and had multiple comorbidities, the Minister said, 'We have asked for a death audit. His death, which occurred on May 17, cannot be directly attributed to COVID. The deceased had been bedridden for over a year, and he was suffering from cardiac issues and tuberculosis. He had also undergone a hip replacement and died of septic shock and multiorgan failure.'
Pointing out that testing is being prioritised for high-risk categories, particularly among the elderly and children with symptoms of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI), the Minister said testing kits that would suffice for over a month would reach government facilities in a day or two.
Preparations had been made for testing at 10 labs in the State, including NIMHANS, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, and National Institute of Virology's unit in Bengaluru, he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Women and youth facing surge in alcohol-linked deaths: New study
A new study by researchers from Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Southern California (USC) has revealed a disturbing rise in alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) deaths—particularly among women and young adults in the United States. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, attribute this sharp increase to heavier alcohol consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic, along with worsening health factors like obesity and high blood pressure. Between 2018 and 2022, ALD deaths increased by nearly 9% annually—a dramatic jump from the 3.5% yearly rise recorded between 2006 and 2018. While men continue to have the highest overall death rates from ALD (17 per 100,000 people), the study noted that women's death rates are climbing faster. In 2022, eight out of every 100,000 women died due to ALD, compared to three per 100,000 earlier in the study period. This represents an annual increase of about 4.3% for women—nearly double the rate of men. Researchers pointed out that women's bodies process alcohol less efficiently, making them more susceptible to liver damage over time, even with lower alcohol intake. 'Young adults between the ages of 25 and 44 saw the most rapid increase in deaths from alcohol-related hepatitis between 1999 and 2022,' added Dr. Robert Wong, a liver specialist at Stanford. 'Alcohol-related cirrhosis takes time to develop. The full impact of today's drinking habits may not be seen for another five to ten years.' Dr. Nasim Maleki, a psychiatry professor at Harvard Medical School, stressed that while the pandemic has waned, its psychological and social aftereffects continue to influence risky behaviors like excessive drinking. 'The pandemic itself came under control, but the disparities that came with it continued and lingered,' she noted. Adding to the concern, data from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025 conference showed that alcohol-related cancer deaths have also doubled—from 11,896 in 1990 to 23,207 by 2021—highlighting a broader health crisis tied to alcohol use.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
How a lung gene is linked to post-COVID symptoms as per genetics study
More than four years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the disease remains a global health concern — not because of new surges but because of what persists. Long COVID, or technically post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), refers to symptoms that continue for weeks or months after the initial illness clears. These include fatigue, breathing problems, and cognitive issues. The World Health Organization defines long COVID as symptoms that begin within three months of infection and last at least two months without another explanation. Why some people develop long COVID while others recover quickly remains unclear. A recent genome-wide association study published in Nature Genetics analysed genetic data from six major global ancestries to investigate whether inherited differences play a role. A diverse study The study, conducted under the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative at the Germans Trias i Pujol research institute in Spain, used a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) to identify genetic risk factors for long COVID. GWAS scans the genome for small 'spelling mistakes'— also known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms — in the DNA sequence that appear more often in people with a condition than in those without. This method has helped uncover links to many complex and chronic disorders. The analysis used data from 33 groups across 19 countries, making it one of the largest efforts to date in this area. The researchers first analysed data from 6,450 long COVID cases and over one million population controls. In this discovery phase, they identified a genetic signal near the FOXP4 gene. This signal was then tested in a separate replication cohort of more than 9,500 cases and nearly 8,00,000 controls, and the association was confirmed. The researchers applied two definitions of long COVID: a strict one requiring test-confirmed infection and ongoing symptoms, and a broader one that included self-reported or clinical diagnoses. Controls were also defined strictly (infected but recovered) or broadly (general population without long COVID). This helped the team test whether its results held up across different clinical definitions. Gene linked to long COVID risk The analysis found a strong association between long COVID and a region on chromosome 6, near the FOXP4 gene. A specific variant in the region, called rs9367106, increased the risk of developing long COVID. People with the 'C' version of this variant were about 63% more likely to have long COVID symptoms than those without it. Notably, FOXP4 increased long COVID risk even in people who weren't hospitalised, suggesting its effect is not tied solely to the severity of the initial infection. The variant's frequency also varied across populations. It appeared in about 1.6% of non-Finnish Europeans but up to 36% of East Asians. Because it was more common in some groups, its effects were easier to detect, even in smaller samples. This highlights why genetic studies that include diverse populations are more reliable and globally relevant. From lungs to immunity To understand the connection between FOXP4 and long COVID, the researchers examined how active this gene was in different tissues and cell types and how its activity related to the condition. The authors noted that the variant lies in a stretch of DNA that is especially 'active' in lung tissue, suggesting it may affect how lungs function. Using GTEx, a large gene activity database, they found that a nearby variant (rs12660421), often inherited with rs9367106, was linked to higher levels of FOXP4 expression in the lung. This made it more likely that the gene influences how the lungs respond to infection and injury. Going further, the researchers checked which lung cells produced FOXP4 most strongly. They found high activity in type 2 alveolar cells, key players in keeping air sacs open, clearing fluids, and repairing tissue damage. These cells also help coordinate the immune response to respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2. The same genetic region has also been associated with lung cancer in earlier research, suggesting that FOXP4 may influence multiple lung-related conditions via shared biological pathways. To test whether FOXP4 activity — and not just the genetic variant — might be linked to long COVID, researchers analysed blood samples from people who had recovered from the initial phase of infection. They found that individuals with moderately higher levels of FOXP4 had more than twice the odds of developing long COVID. This association persisted even outside the acute illness phase, suggesting a longer-term role for the gene. Finally, a technique called co-localisation analysis showed a 91% probability that the same genetic signal affects both FOXP4 activity and long COVID risk, reinforcing the gene's biological importance. India's genomic gaps The study has important implications for India, given its large population, genetic diversity, and significant COVID-19 burden. Multiple waves of infection and unequal access to care mean many Indians may continue to face lasting symptoms, often undiagnosed or untreated due to limited awareness and clinical follow-up. Indian studies suggest a wide range in long COVID prevalence: from 45% to nearly 80% depending on design, follow-up, and illness severity. One multicentre study across Hyderabad, Vellore, Mumbai, and Thiruvalla found that 16.5% of hospitalised patients self-reported symptoms like fatigue and breathlessness even a year after discharge. Although the GWAS included participants from six ancestry groups, the authors said most datasets were of European origin. South Asian representation was limited or unclear. This is a broader issue across GWAS in general, many of which have focused on European populations. Thus, it remains uncertain how frequently the FOXP4 variant occurs in the Indian population or whether its effects are similar in local contexts, particularly given region-specific factors such as air pollution, metabolic risk, and healthcare variability. India's growing genomic infrastructure is beginning to close foundational data gaps. The GenomeIndia Project has released genomic data on 10,000 individuals from diverse Indian populations. While the project is not focused on disease mapping, it provides a foundational catalogue of genetic variation across populations. This reference can support future studies, such as an India-specific GWAS on long COVID, thus building confidence in translating findings into clinical or diagnostic settings in local contexts. Some limitations This large-scale international study identifies FOXP4 as a genetic factor linked to long COVID, offering a new clue as to why some individuals experience prolonged symptoms after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the authors also note several limitations. Most data were collected before widespread vaccination and the emergence of newer variants like Omicron, making it unclear if the findings apply to all populations today. They also caution that evolving definitions of long COVID may have led to misclassification in some cohorts. Additionally, the overall genetic contribution to long COVID appears modest, suggesting that other factors, including immunity and pre-existing conditions, also play key roles. As India continues to address the long-term effects of the pandemic, studies like this highlight the importance of including diverse populations in genetic research. Such efforts can improve public health responses and help tailor care for those living with long COVID. Anirban Mukhopadhyay is a geneticist by training and science communicator from Delhi.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Patients with comorbidity push up Covid admission numbers
Kolkata: The number of Covid patients admitted due to their comorbidities rather than the virus has been increasing at several private hospitals in Kolkata, forcing at least two of them to extend their isolation units. Since a majority of these patients are undergoing prolonged treatment for their comorbidities, their stay periods are long, leaving Covid beds occupied. While new Covid admissions are few, discharges have been even slower over the past week, but not due to Covid, say the hospitals. CMRI Hospital has 14 Covid patients admitted, and Manipal Hospitals also have around 14 across its four units, including Medica Superspecialty Hospital and Manipal Mukundapur, which together have around 10 patients. Peerless Hospital has three, while Woodlands Hospital has a few as well. CMRI has just one severe Covid patient now, while the other 13 admitted have ailments that are taking time to heal. "While we admit a Covid patient every alternate day, discharges are happening every three to four days. These patients have severe comorbidities while their Covid symptoms are mild. They would have been discharged if they didn't have co-ailments," said CMRI pulmonology director Raja Dhar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Taylor Swift, 35, Takes off Her Makeup and Leaves Us Without Words Telehealth Dave Undo CMRI plans to scale up the number of Covid beds to 32 from the existing 18 if the patient number climbs further. It now has 14 patients. "Comorbidities have been stacking up patients," said Dhar. Manipal Hospitals have multiple patients across its four units, including four at Dhakuria. "Barring a couple, the rest have lung or cardiac ailments or have hypertension and diabetes. They tested Covid positive on admission, but their Covid symptoms are mild and manageable. Yet they need to be kept in isolation," said Sayan Chakrabarty, infectious diseases physician at Manipal Dhakuria. While the Dhakuria unit now has 10 Covid beds, including five at the ICU, the Mukundapur unit has five isolation cabins, and the Salt Lake unit has another five. Both Medica and Mukundapur have elderly patients with comorbidities who tested positive on admission. Peerless Hospital had one Covid patient admitted on Saturday, down from three until Friday. "Barring a woman who was admitted with fever, we had two children with mild Covid symptoms who were treated for other ailments and discharged. One child was in ICU, but he was admitted with jaundice and tested Covid positive after admission," said Peerless Hospital CEO Sudipta Mitra. Charnock Hospital had three Covid patients, all of whom were discharged. "We mostly admitted the elderly who had comorbidities like COPD, asthma, lung, or cardiac ailments," said Charnock pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta.
