Latest news with #KiranMadala
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
XFG Covid strain enters Telangana, cases still mild
1 2 Hyderabad: As concerns grow about rising Covid-19 cases in the country, for the first time, one of the samples sent by Telangana health officials for genome sequencing has been found to carry a new Covid-19 sub-variant called XFG. This was revealed by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the central body that tracks changes in the virus. Of the five samples sent from Telangana, four — two men and two women — showed another recent sub-variant called LF.7.9, while the XFG strain was detected in a sample from one man. Dr Kiran Madala, co-chairman of the public relations and social media committee of IMA Telangana and a Covid-19 researcher, confirmed to TOI that both variants were detected in Telangana and the sequences were uploaded on INSACOG's portal. Both XFG and LF.7.9 are sub-lineages of Omicron and trace their origin to the JN.1 variant, which led to a global wave in late 2023 and early 2024. Nationally, these two sub-variants are among the most common at present. As per INSACOG data till Monday, 172 samples were identified as XFG, 82 as LF.7.9, followed by 35 XFJ and 18 others. Telangana has now joined Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal, where the XFG variant has already been detected. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Across India, around 163 cases of XFG have been recorded so far, as per INSACOG. The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking eight sub-variants globally, including NB.1.8.1, which is prevalent in Singapore. "There are ongoing studies on the transmissibility and impact of XFG, LF.7.9, and XFJ. So far, they appear mild. WHO hasn't issued any special advisory on them yet," said Dr Kiran Madala, who is also a professor at Gandhi Medical College. "Covid-19 has become endemic and is not severe in most cases," he added. While the majority of cases remain mild, experts advise caution for vulnerable groups. "According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, 66% of current respiratory viral infections in India are Covid-related. However, hospitalisation is low, including in Telangana. People with two or more comorbidities, weakened immunity, or above 70 years should remain alert," he said. Telangana currently has nine active Covid cases, down from 10 a day earlier, according to the Union health ministry dashboard. "There's no reason to panic," said Dr Ravinder Nayak, director of public health and family welfare. "The new sub-variants are part of the virus's natural evolution and are not showing significant clinical symptoms."
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
COVID-19 cases in Telangana rise to double digits, experts say current wave appears mild
COVID-19 cases in Telangana have now climbed into double digits, with 10 active cases reported on Sunday, June 8, according to the national COVID-19 dashboard. The fresh uptick marks a steady rise in infections across the state, mirroring a broader national trend. The current wave in Telangana began on May 23, when a doctor from Kukatpally in Hyderabad tested positive, the first recorded case in this phase of the outbreak. Since then, daily case numbers have seen a gradual increase. Officials, however, have sought to calm public concern. Telangana's Director of Public Health and Family Welfare told The Hindu, 'It is only a normal routine kind of cases . If there is any hospitalisation or serious presentation, it will be taken seriously. The Government of India is also on the same page.' Genome sequencing data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) shows that five samples from Telangana were sequenced as of June 8. Four of these belong to the LF.7.9 variant, while one was identified as the XFG variant. Medical experts have so far noted no alarming signs. Dr. Kiran Madala, Professor of Anaesthesia at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, said, 'The cases are going up every day, but it is behaving just like another flu. We are not seeing any unusual hospital admissions. The pattern appears similar to what other states are experiencing, and it is milder for now.'
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Three COVID-19 samples from Telangana sent for genome sequencing, all belong to LF.7.9 variant: INSACOG
As COVID-19 cases begin to rise again across the country, Telangana has reported a minimal increase with four active cases, according to the latest figures on the national COVID-19 dashboard. The State, which had zero active cases until a few weeks ago, has now begun sending positive samples for genome sequencing as a precautionary measure. Data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) reveals that Telangana has submitted three samples for sequencing. Kiran Madala, head of Anaesthesia at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, and a COVID-19 researcher, confirmed that the samples were sent on May 5 and May 16, and all three were identified as the LF.7.9 variant. The LF.7.9 variant has, so far, been detected only in India. Preliminary assessment suggests that it is a mild variant. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not yet released specific information or a detailed classification about this variant. Dr. Madala added that, as of June 3, a total of 118 samples had been sent for sequencing from across India. Among those, 58 belonged to the XFG variant, 34 to LF.7.9, 16 to XFJ and three to JN.1 while seven samples were attributed to other variants. The move to initiate sequencing in Telangana follows directions from Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, who asked officials to step up genomic surveillance in light of the national trend. INSACOG data also shows that the NB.1.8.1 variant, currently surging in Singapore, has been detected in one case in Maharashtra, added
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Covid in new avatar makes debut in city!
Hyderabad: With the first COVID-positive case getting reported in the city, the Health Department swung into action in the state as the authorities established an isolation ward in Gandhi Hospital with 30 beds in the wake of increasing cases in the country. However, experts opined that the variant JN1 is not a variant of concern. According to reports, one doctor was tested positive for Coronavirus in Kukatpally area. The doctor was suffering with fever for the last couple of days and when RTPCR test was conducted, he was found infected. However, the doctors have said that there is no need to panic, but urged people to be cautious and wear masks in the populated areas. There has been a spike in the COVID cases in the country, especially in the states like Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, taking the tally to over 257 cases. The health officials said that there was no need for panic as the World Health Organisation had declared that COVID-19 was no longer a global public health emergency. The virus exists in the environment and may cause meek, flu-like symptoms such as cold, cough, fever, throat pain, body aches, etc. According to experts, the virus may not be as effective as in the past. Gandhi Critical Care Medicine Head of the Department Prof Dr Kiran Madala said that after the first two waves, the COVID virus has been spreading in the form of different variants. After the Delta variant in 2021 and Omicron variant in 2022, the effect of the virus has drastically come down. In spite of high cases being registered, the effect was not much. The virus spread has been in countries like Hong Kong, Singapore. Dr Kiran said that the JN1 and XBB variants were reported in the country even in the past. Presently, the variants belong to the Omicron family but it has not been told by the WHO. 'There are two types of immunities including one which we got from the vaccines, which may have gone by now and there is a cell mediated immunity (An immune response where specialised cells, primary T cells, directly target and destroy infected cells or cancer cells, as well as regulate other immune responses) in the body. Generally, immunity power is more in our country. People can avoid the effect of the virus if they maintain hygiene and wear masks,' said Dr Kiran.
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Weeding Out Ghost Faculty: Govt docs stung by NMC attendance norm, GPS system
Hyderabad: As the National Medical Commission (NMC) has mandated face-based Aadhaar authentication for attendance and also GPS tracking to arrest ghost faculty in the medical colleges, the government doctors' fraternity is unhappy with the proposal and demanded withdrawal of such a move. Starting from May 1, the fingerprint based devices for attendance will be discontinued and the face-based Aadhaar authentication will be used for marking the attendance of the faculty. Earlier, the medical colleges used to have Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance (AEBA) to record the attendance. Now the faculty members will have to install face based Aadhaar Authentication application on their mobile phone. The NMC has also asked the colleges to provide GPS coordinates of key locations of the colleges so as to ensure the attendance is recorded within 100 metre radius of these locations. The Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) Secretary general Dr Kiran Madala said, 'We would like to clarify that the NMC has proposed a face-based attendance system utilising wall-mounted devices or a mobile application. At no point has it officially mandated geo-tagging, which, to our understanding, is not currently implemented in India. We strongly oppose geo-tagging as it raises serious privacy concerns for individuals. Introducing such measures without public discourse or consensus is inappropriate, especially when more pressing issues affecting teaching doctors remain unaddressed.' The faculty wanted the Commission to address issues concerning the government medical colleges and the policies about the faculty. Dr Kiran said that the NMC should focus on the transfer policies, peripheral medical college allowances and faculty recruitment and regularisation. 'The Commission should focus on improving infrastructure and facilities. Focusing solely on attendance reform, while ignoring these long-standing core issues, is both demoralising and counterproductive. Government teaching doctors across Telangana have consistently shown their commitment to patient care and medical education. The establishment and successful functioning of 25 new government medical colleges in just three years would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our faculty. We sincerely urge all government and health officials to prioritise the resolution of these long-pending matters, rather than introducing reforms that are not aligned with national practices and risk undermining the morale of the medical teaching community,' he urged.
