Latest news with #Omicron
Times of Oman
2 hours ago
- General
- Times of Oman
India: Rajasthan reports 54 COVID-19 cases, one death
Jaipur: Amid rising COVID-19 cases in parts of the country, Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh said on Friday that the state has reported 54 cases and one death so far. The minister clarified that the death was linked to comorbidities, particularly tuberculosis, and that the current variant in circulation resembles the common flu. "So far, 54 cases have been reported, and one death has occurred. However, the patient was severely affected by tuberculosis. As of now, only one patient is admitted to SMS Hospital--a child infected with the Omicron variant, which is not very serious. It presents symptoms similar to the common flu. There is no cause for concern at the moment. There's no significant spread at the moment, but people are still advised to take necessary precautions," Singh told ANI. According to the Information and Public Relations Department, 15 new cases were reported on Friday--one each from AIIMS Jodhpur, Rabindranath Tagore Medical College (RNT), Sawai Man Singh Medical College (SMS), Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), and Government Medical College (GMC), Udaipur. District-wise COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan are: Jaipur - 33, Udaipur - 10, Jodhpur - 8, Bikaner - 5, Didwana - 5, Ajmer - 2, Balotra - 2, Dausa - 1, Phalodi - 1, Sawai Madhopur - 1, and others - 1. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed that while COVID-19 cases were reported again in parts of the country, the current variants in circulation were showing mild symptoms similar to the Omicron strain. Arjun Dang, Chief Executive Officer of Dr. Dangs Lab, said the rising number of cases was attributed to more transmissible sub-variants. "We must understand that the current spreading variants are again a sublineage of the Omicron virus. Additionally, in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, we have certain other sub-variants that have been named Variants Under Monitoring, and these are basically of two types, LF7 and NV181. Currently, the cases that we are seeing are more transmissible. They can infect people easily, but again, from the severity perspective, till now, we have not seen any severe cases," Dang told ANI.
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Rajasthan records 15 fresh Covid cases
The Covid-19 cases are steadily rising in Rajasthan, with 15 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, an official said on Friday, adding that Jaipur has recorded the highest number of cases at seven, followed by Bikaner with three and Udaipur with two. Isolated cases have also been reported from Jodhpur and two other locations. In response to the increasing cases across India, the Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to all states, urging them to take preventive measures, discourage mass gatherings, and promote the use of face masks. The Central government has also asked Rajasthan to submit a comprehensive report by June 2 on the availability of beds, oxygen, ventilators, ICUs, essential medicines, and PPE kits in all district and sub-district hospitals, medical colleges, and health institutions. The goal is to ensure preparedness in case of a spike in Covid-related hospitalisations. According to the Rajasthan Health Department, one case each has been reported at Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital and RUHS, while five other cases emerged from a private diagnostic center in the city. Overall, 69 Covid-19 cases have been reported in the state so far this year. On the national front, the Union Health Ministry has attributed the recent rise in Covid-19 cases to the emergence of new Omicron sub-variants—JN.1, XFG, and LF.7.9 -- which are causing mild symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat. As of May 28, India has recorded 1,621 active Covid-19 cases, with more than 90 per cent concentrated in six states -- Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The advisory also instructs state health departments to test patients showing signs of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and influenza-like illnesses (ILI), and to conduct genome sequencing of positive cases to track emerging variants. In addition, the Health Ministry has emphasised the need for public awareness campaigns to encourage hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette (covering the mouth while coughing), refraining from spitting in public, protecting the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, and wearing masks in crowded places.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
What Are The New NB.1.8.1 COVID Variant Symptoms And When Will It Hit The U.S.? Doctors Explain
A new COVID variant is spreading quite quickly and is under monitoring by the WHO. The new is variant called NB.1.8.1 and is in the same family as Omicron. Here's what to look out for and potential symptoms. You probably haven't thought much about COVID-19 recently, and with good reason. While the virus is still circulating, cases have generally been down across the country. Unfortunately, that may change soon. There's a new COVID variant called NB.1.8.1 that's suddenly getting a lot of attention. NB.1.8.1 has been named a 'variant under monitoring' by the World Health Organization (WHO)—meaning, the global health agency is keeping a close eye on it. It also has 'increasing proportions globally,' according to the WHO, which points out that the variant has shown up in 22 countries so far and seems to be spreading quickly. "This particular variant is concerning simply because of the rapid spread," says Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. "However, it remains to be seen how widespread this variant would be given the immunity that exists in the other parts of the world." The news comes on the heels of the Trump administration limiting access to COVID-19 vaccines, including revising its guidance for children and pregnant women, raising questions about what to look out for with this variant and how to protect yourself. Here's what doctors want you to know. Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. NB.1.8.1 is a variation of the JN.1 COVID variant, which is from the Omicron family. 'It doesn't seem to be a huge jump, like we saw from the Delta to Omicron strains,' says Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. With that, the symptoms of NB.1.8.1 aren't wildly different from what we've seen in the past with COVID. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or trouble breathing Sore throat Congestion or a runny nose New loss of taste or smell Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Nausea or vomiting It's already here. 'There have already been a few cases detected in the U.S.,' Dr. Russo says. (The WHO points out that there was a big jump in NB.1.8.1 cases detected in the Americas between early April to mid-May, going from 1.6 percent of cases to nearly 5 percent.) It hasn't yet shown up on the CDC's variant tracker, though. It's hard to say as of this second, given that the variant has only recently taken off, Dr. Russo says. However, it does seem to be spreading fast, which suggests that it's highly infectious, he says. Here's where things get slightly tricky. In the past, the No.1 piece of advice doctors would share on protecting yourself from COVID-19 was to get the COVID vaccine. But federal health officials recently changed eligibility for the vaccine, putting it out of reach for most people who don't have specific underlying health conditions. Worth noting: A New England Journal of Medicine paper on this change that was written by Food and Drug Administration officials stated that pregnant women would have access to the vaccine, but Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in an announcement on X this week that he would be removing that access. That can make prevention tricky, Halkitis says. "Individuals who have no vaccination or those who just have the first generation vaccination are particularly susceptible since they don't have updated immunity against the variants that have been evolving over the course of the last five years," he says. So…? If you're not eligible for the vaccine and you're worried about getting COVID-19, Russo recommends wearing a mask in crowded indoor situations and trying to avoid people who are obviously sick. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
India Gazette
9 hours ago
- Health
- India Gazette
Centre monitoring COVID-19 situation closely; prepared to handle any scenario: Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): As COVID-19 cases witness a gradual uptick, the Union Minister of State for Health and AYUSH (Independent Charge), Prataprao Jadhav, on Friday assured that the Centre is fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise. 'Both our Central Health Department and the AYUSH Ministry are fully alert and closely monitoring the situation across all states. We have spoken with the respective Health and AYUSH Secretaries, as well as other concerned ministers,' Jadhav told ANI. He added that the infrastructure developed during the earlier COVID-19 waves has been reviewed and that preparations are underway to deal with any eventuality. 'We've reviewed the infrastructure built during the earlier COVID waves, such as oxygen plants and ICU beds, and have already begun preparations. Our health systems are well-equipped and ready to handle any situation that may arise in response to COVID,' he said. On May 28, Rajasthan reported seven new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases this year to 39, with one death, according to the state health department. The new cases included two from AIIMS Jodhpur, two from Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, one from Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), one from Reliable Diagnostic Centre, and one from Jaipuria Hospital, Jaipur. Punjab also reported two active COVID-19 cases recently, one patient from Yamunanagar and another from Ambala -- both currently undergoing treatment. Earlier, on May 26, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had stated that while COVID-19 cases are being reported again from parts of the country, the circulating variants are currently showing mild symptoms similar to the Omicron strain. Speaking to ANI, Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR, said the government is focusing on transmission, surveillance, and preparedness, but currently circulating variants have mild symptoms like Omicron. 'The government and health agencies are closely monitoring COVID-19 cases and taking necessary steps.' According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, till May 26, India has a total of 1010 COVID cases, with Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi among the regions with the most active cases. Kerala is the worst hit of the three, having 430 active cases. Maharashtra is second, with 210 cases, and Delhi third, with 104 cases. These three regions make up the majority of the active cases, totalling upto 744 cases among the three. (ANI)
Sky News AU
10 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News AU
'Becoming the dominant strain': New sub variant of Covid-19 wreaking havoc as epidemiologist encourages vaccinations amid rising infections
A distinguished epidemiologist has issued a warning over a new strain of Covid-19 as infection rates in Australia continue to rise. Omicron strain subvariant NB.1.8.1 is spreading fast in Queensland, which has seen a sudden spike in the number of people infected with Covid-19. A report by Queensland Health said 671 people were diagnosed with the disease in the week ending May 25, which was an 18 per cent increase from the week prior. There had been 15,693 notified cases of Covid-19 in the state since the beginning of this year according to the report, meaning an average of over 100 new cases per day. There were 54 people in hospital with the disease in Queensland as of Sunday, and the health authority reported 3,388 hospitalised cases between January 1 and May 25. The strain is also the most dominant variant in wastewater samples taken in Perth, while it makes up less than 10 per cent of cases in South Australia, and more than 40 per cent in Victoria. Deakin University distinguished professor and chair in epidemiology Catherine Bennett said NB.1.81. is a sub-variant, related to the JN.1 family of variants and was first reported in January 2025. "It's quickly becoming the dominant strain in both northern and southern hemispheres and will be the variant responsible for our next wave that's on our doorstep," she told "The variant doesn't seem to cause more severe disease but it has a different combination of mutations on the spike protein that make it less recognisable to our immune system and is also better at latching onto receptors in our respiratory linings, making it more infectious. "So those two things together, better able to escape our immune response and more infectious, means will spread quickly and replace older variants." Professor Bennett said Covid vaccines will still be effective in protecting against "severe disease" as it still targets the JN.1 family of variants. She urged more vulnerable people to stay up to date with their vaccines to prevent serious illness. "People over 65 are encouraged to stay up to date with a booster each year, two if over 75, and now is the best time to have it if due as this will then have time to build protection at the start of this wave and provide some protection through the wave which usually lasts 6-8 weeks. People who are immunocompromised should also check their booster status," she said. "Because we had a quiet summer wave most other adults won't have had the same natural boosting as in previous years, so (they) might also want to consider having a booster if it's been a while since they had an infection. "(There's) a few nasty bugs around already with RSV rates in try rise and rhinovirus causing some nasty colds, so also time to be aware of our own symptoms and trying not to spread infections ourselves, whatever virus it is."
