Is Corona returning again? New variants of Covid NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 enter the country, know the latest situation

Corona virus cases are being reported in some parts of the country-Photo File

Two new subvariants of coronavirus, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, have been identified in the country. According to the latest data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a patient of NB.1.8.1 was found in Tamil Nadu in April. While four cases of LF.7 have been registered in Gujarat in May.

Coronavirus is again increasing tension in the country. New variants of Covid NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 have entered. New variants have been found in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. This has been revealed in INSACOG data. Corona cases are also increasing in Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Two new subvariants of coronavirus NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 have been identified. According to the latest data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a patient of NB.1.8.1 was found in Tamil Nadu in April. While four cases of LF.7 have been registered in Gujarat in May.

These variants are under the surveillance of WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has currently placed NB.1.8 and LF.7 in the category of ‘Variants Under Monitoring’. Though these are not ‘Variants of Concern’ or ‘Variants of Interest’, these variants are believed to be responsible for the rise in Covid cases in China and parts of Asia.

According to INSACOG, the most prevalent variant in India right now is JN.1, accounting for 53 per cent of all samples tested. It is followed by BA.2 (26%) and other Omicron subvariants (20%).

What do experts say?

Mutations such as A435S, V445H and T478I found in the spike protein of NB.1.8.1 point to its ability to spread more rapidly and escape the immune system. However, according to the WHO’s preliminary risk assessment report, this variant currently poses little risk to public health globally.

Government’s eye, experts’ meeting

Recently, a high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), in which experts from ICMR, NCDC and other health institutions reviewed the situation. At present, no major danger has been feared, but caution has been advised.

Sources said that some corona cases have been reported from states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka. IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Program) and ICMR’s Sentinel Surveillance Network are active to monitor respiratory diseases including Kovid in the country. Most of the cases are mild and patients are taking treatment at home.

Cases increased in other countries, no need to panic

Sources said that recently there have been reports of increase in corona cases in Singapore, Hong Kong and some other countries, but according to the National IHR Focal Points of the respective countries, the variants currently spreading are not more infectious or deadly than before. The Union Health Ministry is alert and keeping an eye on the entire situation. It is constantly reviewing and monitoring the situation through various agencies.

Active cases of corona across the country…

According to the Ministry of Health, there are a total of 257 active covid cases in the country as of 19 May 2025. However, some states have seen a slight increase at the local level. 23 new cases have been reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours. 4 cases in Andhra Pradesh, 1 case in Telangana and a child of 9 in Bengaluru have been found positive. So far 273 cases have been reported in Kerala in the month of May.

Latest reports from states

On May 24, information was received about new cases from many states. A covid patient suffering from severe diabetes died in Thane, Maharashtra. 8 new cases were reported in the city. Corona was confirmed in two men in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

A 57-year-old tourist from Gujarat and a female doctor of AIIMS Rishikesh were found infected in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. All 23 patients in Delhi had mild symptoms and are in home isolation. A 55-year-old woman from Noida, bordering Delhi, was found infected and was kept in home isolation.

What is the update on Corona in Maharashtra?

A total of 7,144 Covid tests have been conducted in Maharashtra since January. A total of 257 people were found Corona positive. A total of 87 patients have recovered and returned home. A total of 93 new Covid patients have been found in Maharashtra in the last two days. These include 47 in Mumbai, 30 in Pune, 7 in Navi Mumbai, 3 in Thane Municipal Corporation area and 6 in Nagpur Municipal Corporation area.

At present, there are a total of 166 active patients in the state. At the same time, a total of 213 Covid patients have been found in Mumbai since January. 1 in January, 1 in February, none in March, 4 in April and 207 in May. All patients have mild symptoms.

A total of 4 patients have died in Maharashtra since January due to Corona. One of the deceased had nephrotic syndrome with hypocalcemic seizure. The second had cancer. The third had a stroke (cerebrovascular disease) and the fourth patient was suffering from severe diabetes.

High-level review meeting in Telangana

Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha called a high-level meeting to review the situation of Covid in the state and the preparedness of the health department. The patient in the Covid case reported in Hyderabad was a pulmonologist (lung specialist), who has now fully recovered.