Latest news with #Bahl
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
India's Covid cases surge over 15-fold in 10 days: What's behind the spike?
India is witnessing a significant resurgence in Covid-19 cases, with active infections rising from 257 on May 22 to 3,961 by Monday, June 2, a more than 15-fold increase in just ten days, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). What is driving the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases? Health authorities attribute the rapid increase to the emergence of new, more transmissible Omicron sub-variants, specifically NB.1.8.1 and NF.7, predominantly affecting southern and western India. These variants have led to a rise in cases, especially in densely populated urban areas. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl, mentioned in an interaction with media that the uptick began in southern states, followed by western and now northern regions. The ICMR is closely monitoring the situation through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), he said. VIDEO | Delhi: On the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl says, "Cases have been rising, first in southern India, then in western India, and now in northern India. We are monitoring the situation through the… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 26, 2025 Bahl also said, 'The variants we have sequenced from South and West India are not much severe. 4 variants have been discovered - LF.7 series, XFG series, JN.1 series and NB.1.8.1 series in the same order. We are sequencing the samples from other areas to check for more new variants... The cases are not very severe and people should not worry, but only stay vigilant.' How significant is the increase in Covid-19 cases? The active case count has escalated from 257 on May 22 to 3,961 by June 2, marking an approximate 1,441 per cent increase over ten days. This sharp rise underscores the need for heightened vigilance and adherence to public health measures. What are the govt and health authorities saying? The MoHFW acknowledges the surge but urges the public not to panic, emphasising that most cases are mild. Hospitals have been advised to maintain readiness, ensuring the availability of oxygen, ventilators, and essential medicines. The ICMR continues to monitor the situation and has not issued any new guidelines as of now. However, they stress the importance of vaccination, mask-wearing, and avoiding crowded places to curb the spread. Which states are reporting the highest number of active cases? Kerala remains the most affected state, accounting for a significant portion of the new cases. As of June 2, the states with the highest number of active Covid-19 cases are: Kerala: 1,435 cases Maharashtra: 506 cases Delhi: 483 cases Gujarat: 338 cases West Bengal: 331 cases Karnataka: 253 cases Tamil Nadu: 189 cases Uttar Pradesh: 157 cases What is the severity of the new cases? The majority of new infections present mild symptoms, including sore throat, low-grade fever, congestion, fatigue, and mild gastrointestinal discomfort. Hospitalisations have not seen a significant increase, but the elderly and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are advised to exercise caution. How is Covid-19 detected through testing? 'Standard real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests are used for diagnosis,' explains Dr Niranjan Patil, AVP at Metropolis Healthcare. 'If a sample tests positive, it is then sent for genomic sequencing to identify the specific variant, such as JN.1.' Main testing options include: RT-PCR (gold standard, accurate but takes 24–48 hours) Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) (faster but less sensitive) Multiplex PCR tests (such as BioFire, QIAstat) that check for Covid-19 along with other respiratory viruses Test costs: As per government capping, most labs charge between ₹500–₹800 for RT-PCR. Multiplex tests are more expensive. Should you be worried about the resurgence of Covid-19? According to Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO) and chairperson of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, there is no reason to fear Covid-19 due to the immunity people have acquired over the last few years. She said that the widespread use of vaccines, and in some cases, booster shots, has provided immunity. As a result, even if someone contracts the virus, symptoms will likely be mild, such as a two-day fever, cough, headache, and body aches. VIDEO | On the spike in COVID-19 cases in India, former WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan (@doctorsoumya) says, "Coronavirus will remain with us now in the future too. We will witness a spike in COVID-19 cases in the gap of a few months. However, we have a strong immune… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 30, 2025 What precautions should the public take? Health authorities recommend the following measures: Continue wearing masks in crowded or enclosed spaces Maintain hand hygiene and physical distancing Ensure vaccinations are up to date, including booster doses Avoid unnecessary travel and large gatherings Seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms consistent with Covid-19 Although the new variants are genetically clever, doctors say they are not necessarily more severe. Still, their ability to evade immunity is what makes them tricky. 'The current variants are not more severe than past variants, but are more transmissible. That's why it's causing concern across Asian countries,' said Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director – Max Healthcare & Senior Director – Institute of Internal Medicine. Doctors underscore that staying informed through official channels and adhering to public health guidelines without panicking remain crucial in managing the current surge. For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
ICMR-NIV Pune inaugurates high performance computing facility
PUNE The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched its first High Performance Computing (HPC) facility at the ICMR–National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune on Saturday. The advanced system, named NAKSHATRA, was inaugurated by Dr Rajiv Bahl, secretary of the department of health research and director general of ICMR. The facility has been developed under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) as part of a new project called 'High Performance Computing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Hub'. It is designed to boost the country's ability to process large volumes of genomic and bioinformatics data—an area that faced challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic due to limited computing resources. Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Bahl praised the institute for its timely and strategic step towards 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision by strengthening the country's genomic surveillance and data analysis capacity. He highlighted how enhanced computing resources are crucial in preparing for technology driven pandemic preparedness and future public health emergencies. Dr Naveen Kumar, director, ICMR-NIV, emphasized the critical role the HPC cluster will play in supporting rapid, data-driven responses to outbreaks. The newly commissioned HPC cluster features twelve compute nodes, offering a total of 700 cores and 1 petabyte of storage. The infrastructure is tailored to support complex bioinformatics workflows including next-generation sequencing (NGS), transcriptomics, phylogenetics, metagenomics, and structural bioinformatics. Initially, the facility will serve five ICMR institutes across the country, acting as a central repository for sequencing data and extending support to Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) in the near future. This makes the Pune-based institute a critical hub for outbreak investigations and pandemic preparedness, with the potential to accelerate AI-driven drug and vaccine discovery.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nebraska softball star named NFCA DI Player of the Year
Nebraska softball star named NFCA DI Player of the Year Nebraska softball star Jordyn Bahl was named the NFCA DI Player of the Year on Wednesday. Bahl is Nebraska's first player of the year honoree. She was also a unanimous selection as an NFCA First-Team All-American. She's the program's first NFCA First-Team All-American since MJ Knighten in 2016. Bahl finished the season with a .462 batting average while slugging .988 with an on-base percentage of .555. She had 72 runs, 78 hits, 16 doubles, two triples, 23 home runs and 66 RBIs. The Nebraska native also set numerous records for the Huskers this season. She owns Nebraska single-season records in extra-base hits (41), home runs (23), runs scored (72), total bases (167), batting average (.462), and slugging percentage (.988). As a pitcher, she had a 26-8 record with a 1.56 ERA. She threw eight shutouts in 34 starts with 24 complete games. Bahl also had 286 strikeouts and only 46 earned runs across 206.1 innings pitched. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
The Print
6 days ago
- Health
- The Print
COVID-19 cases rise in India. But here's why no one needs a booster shot just yet
As of 26 May, India had 1,010 active COVID-19 cases—up by 753 compared to last week, when active cases stood at 257, according to statistics provided by the health ministry. However, the minor spurt in cases, epidemiologically and clinically, is not significant, say most experts, including those guiding government health policies. There is no need for booster shots against the virus for any population group so far, they say. New Delhi: COVID-19 cases in India have spiked over the last few days, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages, which appear highly transmissible, driving the trend. Asian countries, such as Singapore, Thailand, and China, among others, are also seeing an uptick in cases. In one week, the country has also recorded six COVID-19 deaths, with further reconciliation of mortality figures ongoing in states like Kerala. The government has not yet shared any data on patients hospitalised with COVID-19, but it has stated that most cases are mild, requiring only home-based care. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have reported most of the new cases, according to the government. The Centre has maintained that its pan-India system for surveillance of respiratory illnesses has, so far, not flagged any signs worth worrying about. This surveillance also includes the pan-India respiratory virus sentinel surveillance network under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Also Read: Gut health probiotics now among top selling drugs in India, but doctors advise caution against hype Only Omicron sub-lineages in circulation The genomic sequencing carried out in the western and southern states to identify virus strains in circulation has found all Omicron sub-variants. Besides LF.7, XFG, and JN.1, Omicron sub-lineage NB.1.8.1 has also cropped up in a few cases. 'All these variants are not causing severe disease in other countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) database,' said ICMR Director-General Dr Rajiv Bahl, sharing a statement by the ministry, in an interview with a government-run news channel. In India, most reported cases are also mild, involving the upper respiratory tract only and showing severe symptoms only in a few who have a history of several pre-existing comorbidities, Bahl added. Omicron, the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain that triggered the last significant COVID-19 wave between late 2021 and early 2022, though more transmissible than the Delta strain, the lineage that caused an earlier devastating phase, was known to cause mild disease in most infected persons. Public health specialists and clinicians who ThePrint spoke to underlined that since 2022, there have only been various Omicron sub-lineages in circulation, and no virus strain has, since then, been called a 'Variant of Concern' or 'VoC'—a possible warning sign—by the WHO. Senior biologist Dr Anurag Agrawal, associated with Ashoka University, said that at this point, specific Omicron lineages do not matter much since they are clinically very similar. 'That is why there is no new name. The genomic lineage names are just for surveillance so we can track spread,' he said. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is over, the virus is now a part of the community, experts maintain. 'And like other respiratory viruses, it will keep causing seasonal spikes due to mutation,' said public health expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya. 'In the case of SARS-CoV-2, the seasonality, however, has not been established yet, unlike for other influenza viruses, and hence, we are seeing an erratic and somewhat unpredictable spike in cases every few months,' he stressed. Also Read: IIT-Bombay researchers find PCOS slows down speed of response by 56%, accuracy by 10% Arsenal of vaccines, none against current strains As of now, most people with COVID-19 are reporting mild symptoms involving the upper respiratory tract. Some patients are experiencing abdominal pain or diarrhoea along with fever—symptoms similar to the common flu, said Dr Ujjwal Parakh, a senior consultant of chest medicine at Sir Gangaram Hospital in the Capital. Experts say that considering the likelihood of previous infections with related variants, some level of partial immunity naturally conferred or induced by vaccines—particularly more recently—will likely protect most of the previously infected. Most of the population in India—nearly 1 billion—remain covered by two of the most-used COVID-19 vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin. Out of them, 22.7 crore had also taken booster or precautionary shots. In addition, there are five other vaccines approved against the infectious disease, including Sputnik V, Corbevax, Covovax, iNCOVACC and GEMCOVAC-OM. Yet none of these vaccines work against JN.1, which has been circulating the last year and a half, or other Omicron sub-lineages causing the current cases. Insisting that there is no need for any population group to receive additional booster doses, Bahl said, if required, India could quickly develop and produce an effective vaccine. 'In my understanding, there is no need for it (booster dose) at this time … we have developed and made many types of vaccines, and we have made them on many platforms,' said the ICMR DG. 'If God wants us to use a vaccine in the future, India can make that vaccine, and we can make it fast,' he said. Since most symptoms in patients are mild, with vaccination guidelines against the variants in circulation currently kept fluid, there are no clear indications for the need to administer booster doses to the general population, Parakh said. Some patients with immunocompromised states or comorbidities, however, might be considered for a booster dose, but the current guidelines do not mandate it, he pointed out. Lahariya said that most COVID-19 vaccines protect from disease severity, not the infection itself. As such, there is no benefit from additional boosters for anyone, he said, explaining that any respiratory virus is capable of causing disease in those with compromised immunity. They could instead benefit from the common flu vaccine, which ensures the body does not have to fight multiple infections in cases where several viruses infect such patients simultaneously. Gautam Menon, professor of biology and physics at Ashoka University, said that older adults, like before, should be more careful and wear masks, and that would be a good idea if, at any time, cases rise steeply. Such precautionary measures might be more workable than new vaccines for the moment, he said. But some, such as the small fraction of cancer patients on chemotherapy post-transplant, might benefit from the recent, updated boosters, Agrawal opined. As specific COVID-19 vaccines for this small group are unavailable, Agrawal called for their procurement from other countries. He said that though India could make such a vaccine, the demand remains too low for such a project. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Experimental drug promising to bring down bad cholesterol by up to 69% completes early stage trial
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Huskers softball standout Jordy Bahl named NFCA Division I Player of the Year
LINCOLN, Neb. (KCAU) – Nebraska softball two-way talent Jordy Bahl as named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Player of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to earn the honor. The Nebraska native was also a unanimous NFCA First-Team All-America selection. Bahl broke numerous Huskers records this season, including becoming the first player in Big Ten history to win both the Player and Pitcher of the Year awards in the same year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
