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Time of India
7 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."
Hans India
28-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Facial attendance system for med. staff from May 1
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is set to introduce Aadhaar based facial attendance system for the medical staff including the personnel in PHCs, UPHCs, Basti Dawakhanas and medical colleges in the State from May 1. The medical and health department personnel who do not follow the discipline will have to face loss of pay. The government has mandated that the staff from the Primary Health Centres, Urban Primary Health Centres and Basti Dawakhanas should be in the duty from 9 am to 4 pm. The doctors and teaching doctors who do not follow the time discipline will have to face pay cuts. Director of Public Health B Ravinder Nayak said that there are 638 PHCs, 248 UPHCs and 468 Basti Davakhanas in the State. The aim of the government is to provide better treatment to the poor and middle class sections. The doctors should come to the hospitals in time and register the facial based biometric attendance. The para-medical staff and other personnel should also be in their duties on time. They should be available on time for giving services to provide better treatment, said Dr Ravinder Nayak, adding salaries will be decided based on the attendance. The decision comes after the National Medical Council (NMC) directed the government to implement the app based facial attendance in hospitals and medical colleges. Recently, the Health Minister C Damodar Raja Narsimha had visited the Gandhi Hospital and was unhappy with many doctors not seen in the hospital. He had asked the superintendent to issue show cause notice to the doctors who were absent. The Minister wanted the officials to ensure a system in place to check the attendance of the staff. The doctors would have to enrol their name, institution name, district name and Aadhaar details in the mobile application. There would be regular monitoring of the attendance with surprise inspections. There are 34 government medical colleges and 28 private medical colleges in the State and the rule would be for all. Besides facial recognition, there would be geo tagging to check the moments of the doctors and faculty in the institutions, the officials said.
