"Current Covid variants transmissible but not severe": Dr Arjun Dang
By Shalini Bhardwaj
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): The number of COVID-19 cases in India reached 1,010, on May 27. According to medical experts, the symptoms are similar to cold or flu symptoms.
Amid rising sample requests in the wake of a fresh infection wave, Dr Arjun Dang, CEO of Dr Dangs Lab, said the laboratory is witnessing a surge in testing.
Speaking to ANI, Dr Dang stated that the number of samples has increased, 'There has been an increase in the number of sample requests that we are receiving. But this time, we are better prepared, more informed, and we have better surveillance tools. With the scientific tests that we have, we are in a good place from the preparedness perspective to face this effectively and minimise any kind of damage that the current wave might cause.'
He further said the circulating variants are subvariants of Omicron showing mild symptoms, 'We must understand that the current spreading variants are again a sublineage of the Omicron virus. Additionally, in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, we have certain other sub-variants as well that have been named as Variants Under Monitoring, and these are basically of two types, that is, LF7 and NV.1.8.1. Currently, the cases that we are seeing are more transmissible. They can infect people easily, but again, from the severity perspective, till now, we have not seen any severe cases.'
'All of these are actually presenting as common cold and flu, and the usual symptoms that we have in any kind of common cold, even the hospitalisations, have been minimal,' Dang said.
Dr Arjun also said that majorly since few days testing has been increased, 'I think, may this month had started on a very low note with minimal cases, but I think in the past five to seven days is when we've seen a major uptake and now we are getting significantly high cases to test on a daily basis.'
Recently, in an Exclusive interview with ANI, Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR, said the government is focusing on transmission, surveillance, and preparedness, but currently circulating variants have mild symptoms like Omicron. 'The government and health agencies are closely monitoring COVID-19 cases and taking necessary steps. Currently, the number of active cases is low, and most cases are limited to southern and western India. The government is focusing on three key factors. The rate of transmission and the rapidly increasing cases. Whether the virus is evading our natural and vaccine-induced immunity. Whether the current infections are more severe than before or have mild symptoms like Omicron.' (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
"Yoga India's gift to world, Int'l Yoga Day should be celebrated by all": Envoys on International Day of Yoga
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, called Yoga one of India's gifts to the world and noted that the practice is gaining prominence in of various nations performed Yoga including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, performed yoga in Delhi's Nehru Park on the occasion of International Day of Yoga on to ANI, Philip Green stated, "Yoga is one of those features that Australians think to India's culture and frankly, Yoga is one of India's gifts to the world, and this is an opportunity for us to remind ourselves of that, but also to recall how valuable yoga can be in one's everyday practise. It's growing in prominence in Australia, and I think this International Day will only serve to cause it to grow more."Japan's Ambassador to India, Ono Keiichi , called for celebrating the day across the world."I would like to congratulate you, India, on organising this big event. The International Yoga Day should be celebrated all over the world. So, that's why I'm enjoying this," Keiichi told Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp, said that India has brought the practice of Yoga to the world and recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of declaring International Day of Yoga at the United Nations General Assembly in to ANI, Sharp said, "I think every year on this day, we come together, the world comes together. Actually, it's a course of an ancient practice here in India that has been brought to the world, and it's about physical and mental health and balance and being the whole people that we can be. Prime Minister Modi first launched the idea of an international day in 2014 at the UN General Assembly.""The International Yoga Day was unanimously agreed upon by all the world's governments, and so here we are in beautiful Nehru Park celebrating this special Indian tradition of balance between mental health and physical health, and I think you can see that the entire world community is out here today," he Jaishankar said that he and the diplomatic corps performed yoga in Delhi's Nehru Park on Saturday. Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks, he said the yoga session was a true reflection of Yoga for everyone, beyond boundaries, age, backgrounds or a statement shared on X, he said, "Pleased to join the Diplomatic Corps at the Nehru Park in Delhi this morning to celebrate #InternationalDayOfYoga. Like PM @narendramodi said today, the session was a true reflection of Yoga for everyone, beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age or ability."Every year, the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) is celebrated on June 21. This year marks the 11th International Day of Yoga with the theme " Yoga for One Earth, One Health ", which echoes a vital truth that personal wellness and planetary health are inseparably to a United Nations statement, yoga strengthens the body, calms the mind, and fosters a heightened sense of awareness and responsibility in daily life. This mindfulness allows one to choose healthier and more sustainable 2014, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131. The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states. PM Modi first introduced the proposal in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
India set to integrate rare blood donor registry with e-Rakt Kosh
In what would be a life, time and cost saving move for people with rare blood groups in India the Central Health Ministry is looking at integrating the country's Rare Donor Registry with the national online platform for blood bank management and blood availability information called e-Rakt Kosh. The integration will allow those with rare blood groups to access a centralized system developed under the National Health Mission (NHS), providing details on blood banks, blood availability, and blood donation camps across the country. Essentially, it will help people find blood and blood banks, and assist blood banks manage their stock and donors. 'Indian Council of Medical Research- National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH) along with four partnering institutes created a data base of 4,000 carefully screened donors, tested for over 300 rare blood markers. It helps doctors find rare and specially matched blood quickly. Rare donor registry of India (RDRI) platform has been developed to help patients across India,' said Manisha R. Madkaikar, director, Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR)-NIIH and Centre for Research, Management and Control of Heamoglobinopathies (CRMCH). She added that the integration project will be taken up soon and will offer more access and support to those with rare blood group. 'The challenge is to ensure that we have a steady, motivated group of donors who stay connected to the blood banks,' she said. Explaining how this the registry for rare blood group helps Dr. Madkaikar said that this system helps find rare matches as the registry includes ultra-rare type like Bombay blood group, P-Null and Rh-null blood. It also helps ensure safer transfusions where matches are available for patients missing multiple antigens (common in thalassemia and sickle cell) to prevent complications. 'The group has also developed a special blood screening kit tailored for Indian patients and it uses DNA test (multiplex PCR) to quickly identify rare blood types,' said Dr. Madkaikar. She added at in the past this registry has been used to turn nearly impossible search into life-saving solutions and with the integration and reach India could work towards ensuring that no life is lost due to lack of blood. Meanwhile, working the area of effectively managing hemoglobinopathies ICMR-NIIA has also developed point of care test to detect life-threatening blood related genetic disorders. 'The Health Technology Assessments (HTA) led by Department of Health Research (DHR) and ICMR-CRMCH and NIIH helped cut the cost of sickle cell diagnostic kits from ₹350 to under ₹50 per test, saving the government nearly ₹1,857 crore,' said a note issued by ICMR-CRMCH. 'India has developed testing for Hemophilia A and Von Willebrand Disease and now World Federation for Hemophilia has shown interest in procuring these tests for deployment in countries where the disease is prevalent. For India this new rapid, visual card testing device has made testing possible even at primary health centers,' said Dr. Madkaikar. This upgraded testing is cheaper than what is currently available. India has about 1.4 lakh Hemophilia patients which is the second highest globally after Brazil. Hemophilia is a rare genetic disorder where the blood doesn't clot properly due to a deficiency in clotting factors. The technology for the POC test for these conditions was transferred to Bengaluru based biotechnology firm Bhat Biotech which commercialised it under the brand name Bio-Scan in August, 2023.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Hong Kong medical expert recommends annual Covid-19 and flu vaccinations for high-risk groups
Professor David Hui urges annual Covid-19 and influenza vaccinations for Hong Kong's high-risk groups, citing the cyclical nature of outbreaks and the need for preventive healthcare David Hui Shu-cheong, professor of respiratory medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, has urged that vulnerable groups in Hong Kong receive Covid-19 vaccinations annually. Speaking on Saturday, June 21, Hui noted that outbreaks are expected to recur every six to nine months due to declining antibody levels in the population.'The current outbreak started in April, peaked at the end of May and is now beginning to subside,' Hui said during a radio interview. He estimated that the present wave may end by July or August. Also read: The pandemic isn't over: New COVID cases are on the rise in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and other Sout Hui emphasized that high-risk groups, including individuals with chronic illnesses, children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, face greater risks of severe complications, such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, or even death, if infected. Authorities have confirmed six severe pediatric Covid-19 cases so far in 2025, with no fatalities reported. Two of the children had pre-existing conditions, and four had not received Covid-19 vaccinations. 'As a new outbreak will come back every year, I would advise the high-risk groups to get jabbed at least once every year against the infections,' Hui said. He added that because Covid-19 symptoms often resemble those of seasonal influenza, individuals showing respiratory symptoms should use rapid antigen tests immediately. Early detection allows for timely treatment, which can help prevent complications. In addition to Covid-19 vaccines, Hui recommended annual influenza vaccinations for high-risk individuals. He referenced a recent cluster of influenza A cases at a primary school in Sham Shui Po, involving 46 people, 41 male students aged 7 to 10 and five staff members. Also read: What international travellers should know amidst rising Covid-19 cases Of the infected, 41 sought medical care and three required hospitalization. All cases were mild. Hui attributed the cluster to poor ventilation and inadequate sanitation of shared classroom items.'Influenza vaccines have been used for many years with extremely low side effects, mainly minor redness and swelling at the injection site,' he said. 'Parents should arrange for their young children to receive the flu vaccines to reduce infection risks.'He warned that Hong Kong's summer flu season typically spans half the summer, usually from July to August. The vaccination rate among children aged six months to two years remains low, with only 27 per cent vaccinated. Professor David Hui of the Chinese University of Hong Kong recommends annual Covid-19 and influenza vaccinations for vulnerable populations, citing recurring outbreaks every six to nine months. He warns that chronically ill individuals, children, and the elderly remain at risk of serious complications without regular immunization and timely testing and treatment Hong Kong medical expert recommends annual Covid-19 and flu vaccinations for high-risk groups Hui concluded by stressing the importance of immunization for reducing public health risks amid ongoing viral transmission cycles.
