Latest news with #Omicron-based
Mint
2 hours ago
- Health
- Mint
Covid-19 in India: Pune NIV identifies and isolates 4 new Omicron sub-variants driving the current surge in cases
The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, announced on Wednesday that it has successfully sequenced and isolated four new sub-variants of the Omicron coronavirus variant. These sub-variants are believed to be driving the recent rise in Covid-19 cases across India. Dr Naveen Kumar, director of the Pune-based NIV under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), explained that genome sequencing of samples collected nationwide revealed four distinct Omicron sub-variants: LF.7, XFG, JN.1.16, and NB.1.8.1. Genomic analysis indicated that the surge in Covid infections was initially caused by the JN.1.16 sub-lineage of Omicron. However, since May, this has been largely replaced by the recombinant XFG variant, which includes LF.7 and LP.81.2 strains. Dr Kumar emphasised the critical role of genome sequencing and isolation of new variants in assessing vaccine efficacy. 'Isolation is important to replace the existing vaccine strain if needed. Whether this is necessary depends on the severity of the disease caused by these variants,' he said. So far, the new strains do not appear to cause severe illness. Decisions regarding the development of new vaccines based on currently circulating variants will be made by policymakers after thorough evaluation. At present, India has two monovalent Omicron-based vaccines available: Biological E Limited's Corbevax and Serum Institute of India's Covovax. The Ministry of Health continues to closely monitor the evolving situation. As of 18 June, India's active Covid caseload has marginally decreased to 6,483 from 6,837 the previous day. Official sources report that the severity of infections remains low, with most patients managing their illness through home care. Since 1 January, India has recorded 113 Covid-related deaths, predominantly among individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Kerala remains the most affected state by Covid-19, followed by Gujarat, Karnataka, and Delhi, according to health ministry data released on Sunday. In response, all states have been instructed to ensure adequate availability of oxygen supplies, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines to effectively manage Covid cases.
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Pune scientists isolating Covid sub-variants behind India's new cases
Amid the recent rise of new Covid cases in India, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) on Wednesday said it is conducting genome sequencing and isolating four new sub-variants of the Omicron virus that are believed to be responsible for the new outbreak. Genome sequencing is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism, giving scientists information about the reproduction, evolution and functions of the organism. This effort will help in assessing vaccine effectiveness and whether a new vaccine needs to be developed, said Dr Naveen Kumar, director of the Pune-based NIV, which operates under the aegis of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). An upsurge of Covid cases has been reported since the second week of April this year, beginning in southeast Asia. "Scientists at NIV are doing monitoring, genome sequencing and isolating the new variants. The strain which was circulating in Singapore was also found in India five to six weeks ago," Dr Kumar said. "Isolation is important to replace the existing vaccine strain if at all it is required. Whether or not this needs to be replaced is something which is to be critically analysed based on the severity of the disease. So far, it appears that the strains are not much severe. However, the decision of making a new vaccine using the currently circulating strains is taken by policymakers after extensive discussion." Kumar said that after genome sequencing of samples across India, four sub-variants of Omicron - LF.7, XFG, JN.1.16 and NB.1.8.1 - have been found. Genomic analysis revealed that the surge was due to the JN.1.16 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, and since May, it was replaced by the XFG (LF.7 and LP.81.2) recombinant variant. Whole genome sequences have been submitted to the Indian Biological Data Centre and the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data, Kumar said. Currently, two monovalent Omicron-based vaccines are available: Biological E's Corbivax and Serum Institute of India's COVOVAX. The Covid caseload in the country saw a marginal dip on Wednesday, with 6,483 active cases compared to 6,837 cases on Tuesday. Since 1 January, 113 deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported, primarily among individuals with pre-existing conditions. Kerala has seen the steepest dip in caseload; however, it remains the most-affected state, followed by Gujarat, Karnataka and Delhi, according to data released by the Ministry of Health. Medical experts believe that the current upsurge in cases is a 'mini wave', as the virus is behaving more like a seasonal flu now. They also believe that such seasonal flus will become more common in the near future.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
India has scaled up surveillance, genome sequencing after recent surge in COVID-19: National Institute of Virology
Cases of COVID-19 have never fallen to zero in India since the coronavirus disease was first detected, Naveen Kumar, Director, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, said on Wednesday (June 18, 2025), adding, 'We have now scaled-up surveillance and genome sequencing following the recent surge in cases.' The NIV was continuously monitoring the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus by whole genome sequencing of RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) positive samples referred from 73 virus research and diagnostic laboratories across the country, Dr. Kumar said. The recent upsurge in COVID-19 cases had been noticed since the second week of April 2025, Dr. Kumar said, adding that genomic analysis had revealed the surge was due to the JN.1.16 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, and that since May 2025, it had been replaced by the XFG (LF.7 and LP.81.2) recombinant variant. Whole genome sequences have been submitted to the Indian Biological Data Centre and GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data). The virus isolation of the newer variants would be helpful in assessing vaccine effectiveness, and in supporting India's indigenous efforts for vaccine development, Dr. Kumar said. 'Currently, two monovalent Omicron-based vaccines are available (Biological E Limited's Corbivax, and Serum Institute of India's COVOVAX). The situation is being continuously monitored by the Union Health Ministry,' the head of the NIV said. India reported its first cases of COVID-19 on January 30, 2020 in three towns of Kerala, in three Indian medical students who had returned from Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic. India's active COVID-19 caseload dropped marginally to 6,483 on Wednesday from 6,836 the previous day, according to latest data from the Ministry of Health. Four deaths have been recorded in the past 24 hours. Of the four deaths, two were reported in Maharashtra, while Kerala and Delhi reported one each, respectively. All four individuals were elderly, and had existing respiratory ailments and other chronic conditions. India is currently witnessing a rise in infections driven by emerging subvariants, including LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and the newly detected NB.1.8.1. Delhi recorded the highest number of fresh COVID-19 cases, with 65 new infections taking its total to 620. Kerala continues to report the highest number of active COVID-19 cases at 1,384, followed by Gujarat with 1,105. Karnataka and Maharashtra reported 653 and 489 active cases, respectively. COVID-19 is the symptomatic disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Vaccination remains an important public health countermeasure against COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. SARS-CoV-2 continues to undergo sustained evolution since its emergence in humans, with important genetic and antigenic changes in the spike protein, the global health body said.
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Infections due to new Covid strains not severe, we're monitoring: ICMR-NIV Director
Pune: The JN.1.16 sub lineage of Omicron variant and the XFG (LF.7 and LP.81.2) recombinant variant did not cause much severe Covid infection, said Dr Naveen Kumar, Director ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) on Wednesday, even as the active number of cases declined after rising for over a month. According to the Health Ministry's latest update, there are 6,483 active cases and 113 deaths. This comes after the recent increase in Covid cases noticed since the second week of April, with active cases rising over 7,000 in the country. "Genomic analysis revealed that the surge was due to JN.1.16 sub lineage of omicron variant and since May 2025, it was replaced by the XFG (LF.7 and LP.81.2) recombinant variant," Kumar told IANS here. "The observations made as of now suggest that the disease associated with these strains are not very much severe," he added. He stated that since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the NIV has been tracking the virus and its different variants from its 73 Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VDRLs) across the country. "ICMR-NIV in Pune is continuously monitoring the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 by the whole genome sequencing of RT PCR positive samples referred from 73 VRDLs across the country. Covid has never gone ever since, you know, since 2019. NIV is closely monitoring the various strains circulating in the country," Kumar told IANS. India has submitted the whole genome sequences to IBDC (Indian Biological Data Centre) and GISAID, a global open-access database. The NIV is also in the process of isolating newer variants, he said. "This effort will be helpful to assess vaccine effectiveness and to support India's indigenous efforts for vaccine development," Kumar said. Notably, two monovalent Omicron-based vaccines are available (Biological E Limited's Corbivax and Serum Institute of India's COVOVAX) in the country. On whether there are any requirements for vaccines to tackle the newer variants, Kumar stated that the decision lies with the government. "The decision of whether or not to have a new vaccine using the currently circulating stain is a policy decision. NIV's role is to monitor the recently circulating virus strain," Kumar said, adding that the situation is being continuously monitored by Health Ministry.
