New Delhi: India’s recent surge in COVID-19 cases has been accompanied by the detection of two new variants, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) reported the first case of NB.1.8.1 in Tamil Nadu in April, followed by four cases of LF.7 in Gujarat in May. These variants are currently classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “variants under monitoring,” a designation indicating that while they are being closely watched, they do not yet meet the criteria for “variants of concern” or “variants of interest.”
Despite the WHO’s assessment of NB.1.8.1 as posing a low global public health risk, its spike protein mutations (A435S, V445H, and T478I) raise concerns about potentially increased transmissibility and immune evasion. This warrants continued monitoring and analysis to fully understand their impact. The prevalence of other Omicron sub-lineages remains significant. Data suggests that JN.1 accounts for 53% of tested samples, BA.2 for 26%, and other Omicron sub-lineages for approximately 20%.
The increase in cases is particularly noticeable in southern Indian states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana, as well as in Delhi and Maharashtra. While health authorities confirm that most recent infections are mild, the uptick in cases prompted a high-level review meeting chaired by the Union Health Secretary.
The meeting, attended by officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), focused on implementing effective containment and surveillance strategies to track the spread of the virus and minimise its impact. Ongoing genomic surveillance and public health measures remain crucial in managing the evolving situation.
