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India.com
3 days ago
- Health
- India.com
COVID-19 Cases In India: Active COVID Cases Rise To 3,758; 2 Dead In 24 Hours; Kerala-Delhi Worst Hit
COVID-19 Cases Rising In India Live Updates: India is once again witnessing an unsettling rise in COVID-19 cases, with the number of active infections climbing to 3,758, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's latest update as of 8:00 AM IST, June 2, 2025. Leading the current spike is Kerala, with 64 fresh infections, pushing its active caseload to 1,400—nearly half of the country's total. Meanwhile, West Bengal added 82 new cases, increasing its active tally to 287, while the national capital Delhi recorded 61 new infections, taking its active cases to 436. Maharashtra, another state that has seen consistent rises in previous waves, reported 18 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections recorded to 485, as per the state's public health department. As per May 2025 classifications by the World Health Organization (WHO), subvariants LF.7 and NB.1.8.1 are categorized as Variants Under Monitoring, meaning they are not yet deemed as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest. However, these strains are suspected to be contributing to the rising infections not just in India but also across China and other parts of Asia. Despite the emergence of new subvariants, the JN.1 strain remains the most dominant, accounting for a staggering 53% of all positive cases across the country. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a case of NB.1.8.1 was detected in Tamil Nadu in April, while four cases of LF.7 were identified in Gujarat earlier this month. With the virus subtly shifting form and symptoms evolving, health authorities are urging the public to maintain precautionary measures, including hygiene, mask use in crowded places, and timely testing. Although hospitalisation remains low, experts warn that complacency could reverse progress. Stay informed, and if you're experiencing mild symptoms like fatigue, a sore throat, or gastrointestinal discomfort, it's best to test early and isolate to prevent further spread. Say Tuned To Zee News For Latest Updates...
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
COVID-19 resurgence: India notices five-fold increase in cases; experts warn of high transmissibility of new variant NB.1.8.1
COVID-19 cases are seeing an upward spiral in India after spreading in Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and even China. According to the Union Health Ministry, India has recorded about 2,710 active cases, with 1,170 patients discharged. With this, India notices a five-fold increase in cases, surpassing the 1,000 mark in the week ending May 25. So far, the country has reported seven deaths across multiple states, with comorbidities playing a significant role in most of the deaths. The rise in the number of fresh cases has raised concerns that COVID-19 is making a comeback. Moreover, the current spread of COVID-19 is triggered by a new variant called NB.1.8.1, which first emerged in China and is now spreading across the United States. India COVID-19 Update (30 May 2025) Is NB.1.8.1 a new variant of COVID-19 more dangerous than the old ones? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NB.1.8.1 has been designated a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring (VUM) with rising proportions across the globe, while LP.8.1 is seeing a decline in cases. 'The LF.7 subvariant, another Omicron lineage, has turned up in many areas, including Europe and Asia. Like NB.1.8.1, LF.7 is more transmissible, and this potentially could drive a wave of cases if not kept under strict control,' says Dr. Bhumesh, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine at Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida. 'Even with its quick spread, there is no significant evidence that LF.7 produces more severe illness than previous Omicron variants,' he adds. However, given its capacity to partially circumvent immune protection, preliminary research and expert analysis indicate that NB.1.8.1 may present a new difficulty in controlling the spread of COVID-19. NB.1.8.1. Increased transmissibility is a concern NB.1.8.1 is causing concern due to its enhanced susceptibility to infection and ability to evade the immune system. 'The Omicron variant NB.1.8.1 subvariant has been a cause of concern because it is more transmissible. The strain has been reported in numerous countries, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Australia, with a surge in cases and hospitalisations,' warns Dr. Shrey Srivastava, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida. Dr. Srivastava says, 'Although the NB.1.8.1 spreads better, it does not appear to cause more severe disease compared to other strains. But its susceptibility to evading immunity from past infection or immunisation makes it particularly concerning to vulnerable populations.' Is it time to mask up again? Let's understand Public health officials are urging individuals, especially those at higher risk, to keep current on their vaccinations to avoid the spread and potential damage of this strain. 'Masking is increasing again because of the transmissibility of the NB.1.8.1 Omicron subvariant, which spreads rapidly and infects despite previous immunity,' advises Dr. Srivastava. "While not more sickening, its high transmissibility is filling hospitals, especially with those who are vulnerable," says Dr. Srivastava. Public health experts are calling for renewed vigilance, and masking provides an easy, effective barrier. 'Wearing masks in places that are congested or high-risk contributes to decreasing transmission and shields individuals who are most vulnerable, as vaccines still provide critical protection,' he adds. However, according to Dr. Bhumesh, 'The possible surge in cases becomes a burden on the health care systems, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance, following public health recommendations, and the upkeep of immunisation programmes to stem the tide of this subvariant.' To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Elderly man with COVID-19 passes away in Karnataka
Karnataka reports two recent COVID-19 related deaths, one in Belagavi involving a 70-year-old with pre-existing conditions and another in Bengaluru involving an 84-year-old with comorbidities. The state currently has 126 active cases, with 40 new infections reported recently. Nationally, active cases have risen to 1,010, driven by new variants, prompting increased vigilance and preventive measures. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Karnataka COVID cases Total number of COVID cases Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a similar case in Karnataka, a 70-year-old man from Benakanahalli village in Belagavi district, who tested positive for COVID-19, passed away at a hospital, a senior health official Gupta, Principal Secretary of Karnataka's Health and Family Welfare department, verified the death. The patient, who had age-related health issues, was admitted to Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences District Hospital for treatment. After testing positive for COVID-19 in the morning, he was immediately moved to the COVID ward and died late Wednesday on May 17, an 84-year-old man with serious comorbidities died at a private hospital in Whitefield, Bengaluru; his COVID-19 test results came back positive of May 28, Karnataka reported 126 active COVID-19 cases, with 40 new infections recorded that day, according to the health department bulletin. Health officials confirmed that all district and tertiary hospitals across Karnataka are equipped and prepared to manage COVID-19 of May 29, 2025, India has reported a total of 1,010 active COVID-19 cases, marking a significant increase from 257 cases on May 19. The surge is attributed to the emergence of new variants, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, which have been identified in states such as Kerala, Maharashtra, and response to the uptick in cases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has urged the public to adhere to preventive measures, including wearing masks in crowded places, maintaining hand hygiene, and staying updated with vaccinations. The government is also enhancing genomic surveillance to monitor the spread of these new variants.[With inputs from PTI]
India Today
28-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Can vaccines protect against newer Covid-19 virus variants?
Six years after Covid-19 first spread globally, cases of the viral infection have surged in several parts of Asia, including India, as well as in the United most cases presenting in hospitals and clinics are mild, doctors have maintained that practising basic hygiene is imperative, especially as India reports 1,010 active virus strains currently circulating in the country are LF.7, XFG, and JN.1, along with a new Omicron sub-lineage NB.1.8.1, showing flu-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sore throat, low-grade fever, headaches, body aches and in some cases gastrointestinal Although, like other respiratory viruses, SARS-CoV-2 is also causing seasonal spikes due to mutations, vaccines available in India aren't catered for these experts have said that people who have had Covid-19 before or got the vaccine, especially recently, will probably have some protection against getting serious illness if they catch a similar version of the virus again.A new study has found that prior vaccination against Covid-19 continues to offer strong immune protection, even against more recent variants like Delta and Omicron, though it may slightly limit the body's ability to generate fresh, mutation-specific antibodies. People who have had Covid-19 before or got the vaccine, especially recently, will probably have some protection against getting serious illness. () advertisementResearchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences have published findings in Nature Immunology on Tuesday suggesting that vaccinated individuals still mount a significantly more robust immune response to evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants than those who have never been STILL STRONG DESPITE VIRAL EVOLUTIONWhat the study really wanted to address was this fundamental question of how the immune system adapts when you're exposed to a virus and then the virus changes."Are you able to generate new responses against those new mutations? The answer is yes, although with some nuance," said Deepta Bhattacharya, senior author of the paper and executive director of the university's Centre for Advanced Molecular and Immunological research examined immune responses in individuals infected with Delta or Omicron variants of Covid-19, comparing those who had previously received a vaccine targeting the original strain with those who had never been DIP IN STRAIN-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIESOverall, the study found that those who got vaccinated produced more antibodies after infection than unvaccinated among the vaccinated, production of antibodies that specifically target new mutations was slightly lower. The study found that those who got vaccinated produced more antibodies after infection than unvaccinated ones. () "If you got vaccinated against the original virus strain and then contracted the Delta variant, you made a large amount of protective antibody responses overall,' Bhattacharya people who had been vaccinated had fewer of the antibodies that target the mutated virus, compared to those who caught the Delta variant without having been vaccinated effect, sometimes referred to as "antigenic imprinting" or "original antigenic sin", is a well-known phenomenon in immunology, where the immune system focuses on parts of a virus it has seen before, potentially at the expense of responding to newer the study's authors stressed that the immune protection offered by prior vaccination was still overwhelmingly beneficial, and that the observed dip in mutation-specific antibodies was unlikely to cause a high impact on a peron's FUTURE OF VACCINE DEVELOPMENTAccording to the researchers, the study could shape future vaccine the study, individuals who were first exposed to Delta or Omicron did not effectively generate antibodies against the newer mutations as when they were exposed to the original surprising insight could have implications for how next-generation vaccines are designed.'One of the most important takeaways is that we can potentially engineer vaccines to direct the immune system more efficiently. If we can figure out which parts of the virus are evading the immune system, we could develop vaccines that ensure those regions are being recognised and targeted,' said Bhattacharya. The research underscores that vaccination remains the best defence against Covid-19. () First and foremost, the research underscores that vaccination remains the best defence against Covid-19, even as the virus continues to mutate.'Even with a slight reduction in the specificity of the immune response, vaccinated individuals still have a much higher level of protection overall,' Bhattacharya study helps clear up a common worry that getting a Covid-19 vaccine might make it harder for the body to fight off newer variants of the research shows that this isn't true. In fact, vaccinated people still build strong overall protection, even if the virus has changed a will keep studying how our immune systems react to different versions of the virus and how future vaccines can be designed to work even countries decide how to plan long-term Covid vaccine strategies, this kind of research is now, experts continue to recommend staying up to date with your Covid vaccinations, as they still offer strong protection against getting seriously ill, even as the virus InMust Watch
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
JN.1 is more contagious than previous variants but there's no need for school closures or WFH
Byline: Mini Thomas A sudden surge of Covid-19 cases across India has prompted various states to strengthen their monitoring systems. While most new cases are owing to Omicron sub-variant JN.1, other strains such as NB 1.8.1 and LF.7 are also under observation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dr T Jacob John, an expert in virology, vaccines, and public health, talks to Mini Thomas about the factors that might be driving the current spike, and whether vulnerable groups should get a booster shot When exactly did the current outbreak begin in India? It's difficult to pinpoint at that owing to lack of testing. The current attention to Covid stems from testing initiatives in Hong Kong and Singapore. India initiated testing after a substantial increase in Covid cases that were reported internationally. In India, many may have got infected in the last one month and a lot of them would have mistaken it for the common cold. One way to distinguish between both is that while common cold usually manifests as nasal discharge, Covid typically presents with a dry cough. What would you attribute the spike in cases to? Does it indicate waning immunity from vaccines and seasonal factors? The pandemic ended in 2022 after the Omicron wave. Thereafter, SARS-CoV-2 is endemic globally, just like the H1N1 swine flu infection. Fortunately, the Omicron version alone has survived as endemic, not the Delta variant of 2021. Endemic respiratory diseases tend to show fluctuations in incidence, like endemic flu which shows up as seasonal flu. We haven't observed the post pandemic scene long enough to learn about seasonal factors. Upsurges are surely due to new birth cohorts without immunity joining the population, as well as waning immunity in those previously infected or vaccinated. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What makes JN.1 so contagious? What about its mutations? The reason why Omicron first became an epidemic and then endemic, replacing all earlier variants, is because it's more easily transmitted. Same goes for JN.1, which became the only surviving variant among all Omicron strains. It's more contagious than previous variants because it affects the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat). Oral secretions that come out as droplets contain a good viral load, further spreading the infection. When more of the virus comes out in aerosols (tiny solid particles and droplets in the air), more people get infected. As for JN.1 mutations, their genes vary a bit but properties are the same. It's basically the same virus. Schools are reopening after the summer break but parents are worried about sending their wards amid Covid concerns. Should schools be shut? Certainly not. No purpose is served by school closures. There's no evidence that schools amplify coronavirus infections. Besides, schoolchildren are not any more vulnerable to the infection than others. Even corporates don't need to allow their employees to work from home. There's a surge in cases no doubt, but it's not an epidemic. There is no serious morbidity or significant mortality yet. While there's no need for social distancing, vulnerable individuals should continue wearing masks in crowded places. People can attend social events freely but must maintain proper hand hygiene practices. What other safety protocols would you suggest? A booster dose of the Covid vaccine is a good idea for those who are at high risk. There is a JN.1 specific mRNA vaccine available in India and physicians must consider its use in people under immunosuppression. Injected adenovirus vector-based vaccines are no longer permitted. Masking is certainly recommended as long as the infection is on the rise. No vulnerable person must mingle in crowds when there is a seasonal outbreak of Omicron or flu. Which are the groups at higher risk for serious symptoms? The elderly (those above 65-70), those with chronic lung disease, and cancer, people undergoing post-organ transplant and immunosuppressive therapies, those with uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure and its complications, chronic liver or kidney diseases and so on may have severe disease both with flu and with SARS-CoV-2 infection. How long will the outbreak last? Is India prepared to manage it? India can manage even large epidemics. The current outbreak will not become one. Only a few states are going to face significant challenges. Hopefully, it will die out in a couple of months. What does our healthcare system still lack? Had there been a systematic approach of diagnosis before treatment, this outbreak could have been detected a month earlier. In India, healthcare providers often prescribe antibiotics without proper testing for diseases, including viral infections where antibiotics are ineffective. It ultimately leads to increased healthcare expenses. Poor coordination between public and private healthcare sectors remains a significant challenge. Both central and state governments should have official periodic bulletins published with authentic data. Will Covid ever be eradicated? Do we need better vaccines? Covid-19, even in its Omicron version, is not eradicable, just like influenza. But Omicron did eradicate the Delta variant. Better vaccines are always a good idea but once the pandemic is over, vaccines will not be widely used.
