Two New COVID Variants Detected in India

The recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases across India has sparked renewed concern, with two new variants identified in the country. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the newly detected variants—NB.1.8.1 and LF.7—have raised alarm among health authorities.

One case of the NB.1.8.1 variant was recorded in Tamil Nadu in April, while four cases of the LF.7 variant were identified in May. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified both NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 as "Variants Under Monitoring." Experts have suggested that these new sub-variants may be contributing to the increase in COVID-19 cases in China and other parts of Asia.

In India, the highest number of active COVID-19 cases has been reported from Kerala, which recorded 278 active cases in May. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are also experiencing a rise in infections. In Bengaluru, a COVID-related death has been reported—an 84-year-old man succumbed to COVID-19 along with other health complications. Additionally, a nine-month-old infant in Bengaluru tested positive for the virus.

In Maharashtra, 47 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Saturday and 45 on Sunday, raising the state’s active case count to 209. Maharashtra also reported its fourth COVID-19 death— a 21-year-old individual in Thane, who was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis, succumbed to the infection.