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India Today
5 days ago
- Health
- India Today
All about the new Covid variant
All about the new Covid variant May 30, 2025 Credit: Generative AI With the recent surge of Covid-19 in parts of India and across the globe, health experts are closely monitoring a new variant of the virus: NB.1.8.1. Credit: Getty Images New Covid variant This subvariant of Omicron has shown early signs of being more immune-evasive than its predecessors, meaning it may be better at escaping the body's defences. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NB.1.8.1 has been classified as a 'variant under monitoring." One reason NB.1.8.1 is raising alarms is its increased transmissibility and immune evasion capacity. "NB.1.8.1 is believed to be about 1.5 times more contagious than the previous LP.8.1 variant," Gautam Menon, dean of research and professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, told A preliminary study reveals that a mix of stronger cell attachment and weaker immune response means the variant can spread more easily. Credit: Credit Name There is currently no indication that NB.1.8.1 causes more severe disease, since most cases are presenting mild symptoms. Mild symptoms The new variant causes flu-like symptoms: cough, cold, core throat, fever, headaches, body aches and in some cases stomach issues. Doctors have said that people don't vaccine or a booster shot just yet. Need a booster shot?
India Today
5 days ago
- Health
- India Today
How the new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 affects immunity: What you need to know
With the recent surge of Covid-19 in parts of India and across the globe, health experts are closely monitoring a new variant of the virus: NB.1.8.1. This subvariant of Omicron has shown early signs of being more immune-evasive than its predecessors, meaning it may be better at escaping the body's defences, even in people who are vaccinated or previously to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NB.1.8.1 has been classified as a 'variant under monitoring', a category for strains that carry genetic changes that may affect virus behaviour, but which have not yet shown a significant public health early studies and expert analysis suggest that NB.1.8.1 could pose a new challenge in managing Covid-19's spread due to its ability to partially evade immune protection. WHAT IS NB.1.8.1?NB.1.8.1 is part of the Omicron lineage, closely related to other recent subvariants such as LP.8.1 and variant has already been widely reported in China, Thailand, and other East Asian countries, and has also been detected in travelers from France, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, and Taiwan, according to data from the GISAID global database. It is also circulating in several parts of SCIENTISTS CONCERNED?One reason NB.1.8.1 is raising alarms is its increased transmissibility and immune evasion capacity."Right now, the reasons for its increased transmissivity are unclear, although the fraction of new cases accounted for by this variant have rapidly increased over the past few weeks,' Gautam Menon, dean of research and professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, told NB.1.8.1 has been classified as a advertisement'NB.1.8.1 is believed to be about 1.5 times more contagious than the previous LP.8.1 variant. It is currently unknown whether immune protection from the JN.1 vaccine may transfer to NB.1.8.1," Menon WHO has also noted that NB.1.8.1 appears to be more immune-evasive than LP.8.1, a descendant of JN.1, raising concerns about whether current vaccines can still offer sufficient DOES IT EVADE IMMUNITY?Virologist Lara Herrero of Griffith University discussed preliminary findings from a lab-based study (not yet peer-reviewed), which could help explain why NB.1.8.1 is spreading so rapidly."Researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested, suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains," she wrote in The same study also examined how antibodies from either vaccination or past infection responded to the variant. Results showed that NB.1.8.1 was 1.5 times less susceptible to neutralisation compared to LP.8.1.1, meaning the body's immune response was weaker against it. The WHO has also noted that NB.1.8.1 appears to be more immune-evasive than LP.8.1, a descendant of JN.1, raising concerns about whether current vaccines can still offer sufficient protection. () This mix of stronger cell attachment and weaker immune response means the variant can spread more easily, even among people who already have some there is currently no indication that NB.1.8.1 causes more severe disease, since most cases are presenting mild symptoms, its ability to spread more efficiently and bypass some immune defences highlights the need for continued surveillance, updated vaccines, and public is a need to continue to monitor its growth across regions, and vaccine developers may need to adapt formulations if NB.1.8.1 becomes widespread InMust Watch
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Delhi hospitals told to be prepared amid rise in Covid cases
In view of the recent increase in Covid-19 cases, the Delhi government Friday issued an advisory, asking hospitals to prepare in terms of availability of beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccines. Experts however assured that there is no cause for immediate worry as there is currently no evidence that the new variants of Covid-19 are more transmissible or severe than earlier ones. "Ensure all the equipment's such as ventilators, Bi-pap, oxygen concentrators, PSA are in functional condition," it said. The health department directed adequate testing as per Covid guidelines. "Ensure Covid testing of 5% ILI cases and 100% SARI cases," it said. The government also asked health institutions to send all positive Covid samples for genome sequencing to Lok Nayak Hospital. It has also instructed all hospital staff to start wearing masks, as part of respiratory etiquettes. LF.7 and NB.1.8-both offshoots of coronavirus subvariant JN.1-are currently the most common variants, accounting for more than two-thirds of all sequenced cases in Singapore and Hong Kong. The latest spike is being attributed to waning immunity. The infection rate in Hong Kong has surged to 11.4% from 1.7% in mid-March, according to data from the Centre for Health Protection, under the department of health in Hong Kong. Gautam Menon, professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, said India could see an increase in flu-like cases in the next few months. Mumbai has reported 95 new Covid cases in May-a significant uptick compared to Maharashtra's total of 106 since January, according to the state health department. Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director & senior director - Institute of Internal Medicine at Max Healthcare said India needs to remain vigilant. "Any such case which comes where there is a suspicion, especially a traveller, should be tested; genomic surveillance testing should be done, and of course, the person should then isolate himself or herself. At this stage, other than this, any mass advice for people at a larger population base is not required because India has yet not reported any increased number of cases," he said.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Covid-19 surge in Singapore, Hong Kong not a cause for concern in India: Health Ministry
Amid the latest surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong, a review meeting of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and central government hospitals was held under the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) on Monday. "The current Covid-19 situation in India remains under control," the health ministry said in a statement. As of May 19, the number of active Covid-19 cases in India stands at 257. "Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalisation required," it further said. The health ministry said they remain vigilant in monitoring the situation closely. Coronavirus subvariant JN.1, responsible for the latest Covid surge in Singapore and Hong Kong, has been circulating in India for quite some time and there's nothing to worry as there is no evidence that the variants were more transmissible or severe, health experts told ET. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Never Put Eggs In The Refrigerator. Here's Why... Car Novels Undo LF.7 and NB.1.8, both offshoots of JN.1, are currently the most common variants, accounting for more than two-thirds of all sequenced cases in both Singapore and Hong Kong. The spike is being attributed to waning immunity. The infection rate in Hong Kong has seen a sharp surge from 1.7% in mid of March to 11.4% now, according to the data by the Centre for Health Protection, under the department of health in Hong Kong. Live Events Gautam Menon, professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, said that India could see a rise in flu-like cases in the next few months. "Singapore and Hong Kong are seeing a rise in cases of the variants LF.7 and NB.1.8, which are descended from the JN.1 strain. I think we can anticipate a rise in flu-like cases traceable to these variants in the next few months". Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director-Max Healthcare & senior director-Institute of Internal Medicine, said the good news is that the present variant which is causing Covid in these countries is not much different from what we experienced during the last waves of Covid.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
NIV shares H5N1 genome data in a public database
The Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) has shared the H5N1 genome sequence data with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), a public database, on April 21, days after a report was published in The Hindu about NIV not sharing sequence data before paper publication. The H5N1 sequence data deposited in GISAID was collected from a two-year-old girl from Narasaraopeta in Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh. The girl was admitted to AIIMS-Mangalagiri on March 4, 2025 and ICMR's Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) identified the virus as influenza A on March 7. The sample was sent to NIV for Influenza A virus subtyping. NIV identified the virus as N5N1, and the Andhra Pradesh government was informed about the result on March 31. 'Sharing the genome sequence data should happen as soon as they are available, if this information is to be of use,' says Dr. Gautam Menon, Professor of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University.
