Latest news with #IndianCouncilofMedicalResearch
India Today
an hour ago
- Health
- India Today
India's Covid tally nears 4,000; Delhi sees highest one-day jump with 47 new cases
The number of active coronavirus cases in India stood at 3,961 on Monday morning, with Delhi reporting the highest single-day increase of 47 new cases, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Across the country, 203 new cases were reported one more death linked to Covid-19, taking the total number of fatalities to four, while the total number of infections in the national capital rose to currently the worst-affected state, reported 1,435 active cases, followed by Maharashtra with 506, Delhi with 483, West Bengal with 339, and Gujarat with 338. In addition to Delhi, one Covid-related death each was reported in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra in the past 24 victim in Delhi was a 22-year-old woman with a pre-existing lung condition, while a 25-year-old man with similar bronchial issues died in Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra reported the death of a 44-year-old man, and details of the fatality in Kerala are to central government sources, the Covid-19 situation in India is being closely monitored by the authorities. The severity of infections remains low, with most patients recovering under home isolation. There is no cause for concern at this time, the sources Monday, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said that genome sequencing of samples from the western and southern regions of the country has revealed that the variants driving the current surge in cases are subvariants of Omicron and are not associated with severe Omicron subvariants -- LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1 -- have been detected, with the first three appearing more frequently, he InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Covid-19
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Business Standard
an hour 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
Mint
3 hours ago
- Health
- Mint
Covid-19 cases in India: 203 new cases, 4 deaths reported in last 24 hours
India registered 203 new Covid-19 patients in the last 24 hours, with the total number of cases reaching 3,961 in the latest coronavirus outbreak, showed health ministry data on Monday. The disease that brought the world to a standstill in 2020 claimed four more lives, one each in Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, with the toll reaching 32 since 1 January 2025. Kerala (1,435), Maharashtra (506), Delhi (483), Gujarat (338), and West Bengal (331) have reported the most number of cases so far. This fresh wave has been caused by two new coronavirus variants, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, mutations of the Omicron offspring JN.1 variant. Both were found in India. The positivity rate stands at approximately 64.08%. A high positivity rate suggests higher transmission and that there are likely more people with coronavirus in the community who haven't been tested yet. Dr Vikas Maurya, head of the pulmonary department at Fortis Healthcare, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, said they were largely seeing Covid-19 patients with mild infection, taking a maximum of one week to recover. 'Right now, every second person who has symptoms like cough, cold, fever and sore throat should get themselves tested for covid-19 and use a mask and isolate themselves.' He said most patients are inquiring about the Covid-19 vaccine. However, due to its unavailability, people who are willing to take the vaccine are not able to get the shot. 'The vaccine should be there, and it should be made voluntary for those who wish to take it.' Recently, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former director of the Indian Council of Medical Research and ex-chief scientist at the World Health Organisation, urged pharma companies to ensure that they can create a vaccine for the latest coronavirus variant. The health ministry's Covid-19 dashboard revealed that at least 370 patients recovered from the infection or got discharged in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of active cases to 2,188. A senior government scientist involved in the monitoring of the infection said the disease is not going to make a major impact on the population this time. 'We have all the tools to monitor Covid-19. The government has increased the testing capacity; it's doing the sentinel surveillance to target the select population in a specific location. The infection is mild, so there is nothing to worry.'
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Health
- Business Standard
203 fresh cases take India's Covid tally past 3,900-mark; 4 deaths reported
India's active Covid-19 caseload has surged to 3,961, with 203 new infections and four deaths reported in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MoHFW's) latest update on Monday at 8.00 am. Kerala, currently the worst-hit state, accounts for 1,435 active cases, followed by Maharashtra (506), Delhi (483), Gujarat (338), and West Bengal (331). Other states with rising numbers include Karnataka (253), Tamil Nadu (189), Uttar Pradesh (157), and Rajasthan (69). Covid-19 cases surge sharply The spike has been sharp. From 257 active cases on May 22, the count jumped to 1,010 by May 26, and then more than tripled to 3,961 by Monday (June 2). Covid-19 regional case updates The four fatalities included one each from Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra. The deceased from Delhi was identified as a '22-year-old female with old treated pulmonary Koch's/ post tuberculosis lung disease/ Bilateral lower respiratory tract infection.' From Tamil Nadu, a 25-year-old male with bronchial asthma and severe acute tubular injury and an incidental Covid positive status succumbed to the infection, according to MoHFW. In Maharashtra, a 44-year-old male suffered from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with dilated aortic regurgitation and was Covid-19 positive. The details of the death in Kerala are still awaited. Of the new cases, West Bengal reported 44 infections, followed by Delhi with 47, Kerala with 35, Maharashtra with 21, and Gujarat with 18 cases, the data showed. According to data, 370 people have been discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours. States ramp up preparedness To counter this surge, several states and UTs have come out with advisories asking both government and private hospitals to ensure preparedness in terms of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, and other drugs. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the genome sequencing of samples from the western and southern regions has indicated that the current rise is driven by subvariants of Omicron, which so far appear to be mild in nature. People urged to remain calm Officials have urged the public not to panic, noting that most cases remain mild. The four subvariants identified are LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1, with the first three being more prevalent.
News18
5 hours ago
- Health
- News18
No 2020-Like Repeat Of Covid-19, Influenza A Bigger Risk: Ex-WHO Scientist Soumya Swaminathan
Last Updated: Addressing fears of another catastrophic wave, Swaminathan said periodic surges—roughly every 6-8 months—are expected, largely manageable, and low in severity Influenza, and not Covid-19, likely claims more lives each year in India and globally despite the latter dominating headlines, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), has told News18. One of the leading experts on infectious diseases, Swaminathan has reassured the public that there is 'absolutely no need to panic now". In an exclusive interview, Swaminathan told News18 that the SARS coronavirus, much like influenza, is now part of the respiratory viruses regularly circulating in the population. ' COVID or SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus, is another respiratory virus, like the many others that are circulating amongst us human beings in the world today. It has been around for five years now. It's, of course, constantly mutating and changing, like other viruses," she said. When asked whether there's a possibility of another 'Delta-like' wave making a return, she said the public needs to understand 'very clearly" that 'we will not see the repeat of 2020 or 2021. At that time, human beings had never seen this virus before". According to her, these periodic surges—roughly every 6-8 months—are expected and largely manageable. 'We have also now started seeing that periodically…There is a rise in circulating Covid-19 cases," she noted, citing data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which indicates that the Omicron variant JN.1 has recently become the dominant strain. Swaminathan, before her ground-breaking role at WHO, was the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and secretary of the Department of Health Research in India. She, however, says that despite the increase in cases, the severity remains low. 'What you're seeing now is a mild disease mostly. Even though people are testing and reporting positivity, you find that hospitalisations are rare," she said. Swaminathan highlighted that individuals with underlying health conditions should continue to take precautions. 'People who have underlying illnesses… are likely to get a little sicker when they get a respiratory infection," she warned, adding that this applies to both Covid-19 and influenza. The flu virus may pose a greater threat than Covid-19. 'Influenza probably kills a lot more people in India and around the world… it makes a lot of sense for vulnerable people to take the flu vaccine, which gets updated every year." Addressing fears of another catastrophic wave, she assured the public: 'It will not happen that we will have a repeat of 2020 or 2021… Today, the virus cannot spread in the same way because it is met with a strong immune response." Do we need booster shots or updated vaccines? According to Swaminathan, there is a need to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of updating vaccines, especially in countries like India. 'We see that illness is mild, not requiring hospitalisation… There doesn't seem to be any reason to start a booster campaign now," she said, although she acknowledged the importance of preparing for potential future variants through continued research and updated vaccine development. She also outlined five key areas for pandemic preparedness. 'We need new legislation today that will cover biological threats like pandemics," she said, adding that 'India should have its own list of priority pathogens… and mechanisms for developing vaccines and therapeutics". Also, she said: 'Every state must have a public health cadre… It's essential to deal with so many health risks today, along with the improvement of health literacy and public engagement, which is critical." What should you do? 'Let's take sensible precautions… I see people travelling in crowded buses, trains, and planes, coughing and sneezing without a mask—that's just spreading infection." As for concerns about waning immunity, she explained, 'There are two kinds of immunity… antibodies, which decline over time, and T-cells, which have memory. The moment you are exposed again to the same virus… your immune system does its job." She emphasised that Covid-19 is now an endemic part of life. While vigilance and preparedness are necessary, panic is not. 'We can rest assured now… I would say, let's take sensible precautions… but there's no need for any panic." Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
