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The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
What you need to know about the ‘razor blade' Covid variant
Covid-19, it seems, can never stay out of the news for very long. One variant of the virus has been making headlines recently for being behind a spike in cases, particularly in China and the United States, and for causing 'razor blade' throats, or a severely painful sore throat. What do you need to know about this? Read on, to find out. The 'razor blade' throat, reports indicate, is being caused by the NB.1.8.1 variant of the virus, an Omicron-descendent variant dubbed as 'Nimbus' and currently accounting for a large number of cases worldwide. On May 23, 2025, the World Health Organization classified this variant as a 'SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring (VUM) with increasing proportions globally, while LP.8.1 is starting to decline.' A technical document by the WHO states: 'Considering the available evidence, the additional public health risk posed by NB.1.8.1 is evaluated as low at the global level. Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease. Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalizations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation.' Symptoms remain similar to those caused by other Covid-19 strains and include fever, a sore throat, cough, runny nose and tiredness. Media reports indicate some patients complaining of a sharp, stabbing pain while swallowing, often at the back of the throat, akin to 'swallowing a razor blade'. However, it is unclear if this is a distinctive symptom of this variant The WHO, in its technical document, had said spike mutations in this variant could increase its transmissibility. In India, according to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), one case of NB.1.8.1 was identified in April in Tamil Nadu and four cases of LF.7 were detected in Gujarat in May. As of May, the most common variant remained JN.1, comprising 53 % of samples tested, followed by BA.2 (26 %) and other Omicron sublineages (20 %). In June, a media report stated about 163 cases of the COVID-19 variant XFG, had been detected, according to INSACOG data. Earlier this week, Naveen Kumar, Director, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, said surveillance and genome sequencing have been scaled up. He said genomic analysis had revealed the surge was due to the JN.1.16 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, and that since May 2025, it had been replaced by the XFG (LF.7 and LP.81.2) recombinant variant. Doctors in India have reiterated that Covid-19 is now co-circulating with other seasonal infections and that they do not expect any major waves of the kind seen in 2021 and 2021. Spikes and dips however, may continue. Personal protection and hygiene measures such as hand washing, avoiding crowded places when possible or masking up, and protecting vulnerable segments of the population must continue, they have said. As of Friday, June 20, 2025, India's tally of active Covid-19 cases dipped to 5,608 from the 7,000 plus mark last week, and four new deaths were reported, taking the total toll this year to 120.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Necessary preparations made for oxygen plants and hospitals in state : Uttar Pradesh Dy CM Brajesh Pathak on steps taken to combat Covid-19
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Wednesday stated that full arrangements had been made to handle the COVID-19 cases in the state. He further stated that reviews had been conducted and that all necessary preparations had been made for oxygen plants and hospitals in the state. "There is no need to panic. Experts have said that, for now, it is limited to cold and fever. Only serious patients and the elderly need to be cautious. The government has made full arrangements. Reviews are being conducted at every level, and in addition, we have ensured all necessary preparations in oxygen plants and hospitals," Pathak told ANI. Earlier on May 28, the UP government issued an order to keep more than 2800 employees who worked during the previous COVID time in permanent service. Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak informed that more than 2200 people have been accommodated, and an order was issued to the government hospitals to accommodate them on priority. "The government has issued an order to keep more than 2800 employees who worked during the time of COVID permanently in service. More than 2200 people have already been accommodated. For the remaining, a government order was issued yesterday to accommodate them on priority in all our hospitals", Brajesh Pathak told ANI. This comes after a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases has been recorded in the country. As of June 10, India reported 6,815 active COVID-19 cases. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), 163 cases of the new COVID-19 variant XFG have recently been detected across the country. Earlier, Balram Bhargava, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and former Secretary of the Department of Health Research, said that the emergence of the XFG variant is part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus's natural evolution. He added that India is well-positioned to detect and contain emerging variants swiftly due to the widespread deployment of rapid molecular diagnostic platforms such as Truenat.
India Gazette
11-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
Necessary preparations made for oxygen plants and hospitals in state : Uttar Pradesh Dy CM Brajesh Pathak on steps taken to combat Covid-19
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 11 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Wednesday stated that full arrangements had been made to handle the COVID-19 cases in the state. He further stated that reviews had been conducted and that all necessary preparations had been made for oxygen plants and hospitals in the state. 'There is no need to panic. Experts have said that, for now, it is limited to cold and fever. Only serious patients and the elderly need to be cautious. The government has made full arrangements. Reviews are being conducted at every level, and in addition, we have ensured all necessary preparations in oxygen plants and hospitals,' Pathak told ANI. Earlier on May 28, the UP government issued an order to keep more than 2800 employees who worked during the previous COVID time in permanent service. Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak informed that more than 2200 people have been accommodated, and an order was issued to the government hospitals to accommodate them on priority. 'The government has issued an order to keep more than 2800 employees who worked during the time of COVID permanently in service. More than 2200 people have already been accommodated. For the remaining, a government order was issued yesterday to accommodate them on priority in all our hospitals', Brajesh Pathak told ANI. This comes after a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases has been recorded in the country. As of June 10, India reported 6,815 active COVID-19 cases. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), 163 cases of the new COVID-19 variant XFG have recently been detected across the country. Earlier, Balram Bhargava, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and former Secretary of the Department of Health Research, said that the emergence of the XFG variant is part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus's natural evolution. He added that India is well-positioned to detect and contain emerging variants swiftly due to the widespread deployment of rapid molecular diagnostic platforms such as Truenat. (ANI)
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
New XFG COVID-19 variant part of natural evolution of SARS-CoV-2: Former ICMR chief Dr Bhargava
New Delhi: Emergence of the new XFG variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is part of SARS-CoV-2's natural evolution, said Dr Balram Bhargava, former Director General of the Indian Council for Medical Research, amidst India recording over 200 cases linked to the variant. Dr Bhargava was part of the team at the forefront of managing the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The emergence of the XFG variant is part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus's natural evolution," he said. His statement comes as India's active COVID-19 cases crossed 7,000 as of June 11, with over 300 added in the last 24 hours and six deaths recorded in the same period, data from the Union Health Ministry shows. According to the latest data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), 206 cases have been linked to XFG variant, with the highest count of 89 infections coming from Maharashtra, followed by West Bengal reporting 49. Dr Bhargava said the XFG variant of SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) carries mutations which may improve its ability of binding to human cells and bypassing immune defences. "Early reports suggest that the variant has high immune escape potential , but there is no current evidence to indicate (an) increased severity (of disease)," he said. Other states reporting infections due to the XFG variant are Kerala (15), Tamil Nadu (16), Gujarat (11), Madhya Pradesh (6), Andhra Pradesh (6), Odisha (4), Puducherry (3), Delhi (2), Rajasthan (2), and Punjab, Telangana and Haryana (one each). However, similar to how the virus adapts, so has India's diagnostic infrastructure since the first wave of the pandemic, and the RT-PCR test, or 'reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction' -- which detects the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 in samples -- remains its cornerstone, the cardiologist said. He added that the widespread deployment of platforms such as Truenat -- a rapid molecular diagnostic test that uses RT-PCR technology for diagnosis -- puts India in a strong position to detect and contain emerging variants swiftly, even in remote and resource-limited settings. Point-of-care testing, which detects antibodies in blood, played a crucial role during the pandemic then, and it continues to be a frontline tool for detecting emerging variants, such as XFG, Dr Bhargava said. "Vigilance is critical now, and not panic. As we have done in the past, we should continue testing when symptomatic, masking in crowded spaces, and staying up to date with vaccinations", he said. India has seen 74 deaths in the current surge in COVID-19 cases, which started January this year. Kerala continues to be the most affected with over 2,200 cases, followed by Gujarat (1223) and Delhi (757). Official sources have said that most cases are mild and can be managed under home care, even as all states have been instructed to ensure availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines, amidst rising cases of COVID-19. INSACOG data also shows that 21 of the newly emerging cases are linked to the LF.7 variant -- Maharashtra and Gujarat reporting the highest with six cases each -- and two to the NB.1.8.1 variant -- one each in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. PTI
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
43 more XFG cases takes total tally in state to 49
Kolkata: The new Covid-19 variant, XFG, was found in 43 more Covid-positive samples in Bengal during whole genome sequencing. This brings the total number of XFG variant cases in Bengal to 49. While the number of samples being sequenced is still not high enough, doctors said this strain could be causing the current spike in the state as well as in other parts of the country. Health officials said that XFG belongs to the Omicron family of Covid-19, and despite its high transmissibility, this variant is known to cause only mild infection in most cases. "With XFG isolated in most positive samples, this variant is emerging as the dominant variant in circulation during this spike. But there is nothing to worry about as this variant is causing only mild infection," said a health official. By Tuesday, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) detected 206 XFG variant cases across the country. In Maharashtra, 89 cases of this new variant were found, while Tamil Nadu and Kerala followed with 16 and 15 cases, respectively. Yogiraj Ray, head of the infectious diseases department at IPGMER, said,"While this variant can emerge as the dominant variant in circulation, there is nothing to worry about as it is an offshoot of Omicron. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's The Price for a 1-Day Walk-in Shower In 2025 Homebuddy Learn More Undo In fact, two post-transplant patients – kidney and liver – who tested positive for Covid-19 did not get severe infection." "Covid-19 is endemic and will stay in the community now. XFG is known to be immune evasive. A variant with high transmissibility and low mortality is likely to spike rapidly but subside fast. Since the current spike is causing mostly mild infection, we should not worry. But genomic sequencing should be carried out on a regular basis so that any aberrant mutation can be detected on time for better preparedness and also to mitigate unnecessary panic," said Sumon Poddar, associate professor of paediatrics at the Institute of Child Health Kolkata, who is also attached to the microbiology lab of the institute.
