Latest news with #SARS-CoV2
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Mumbai, Pune account for 70 per cent of Covid-19 infections this year
Mumbai and Pune account for 70 per cent of the Covid-19 infections this year. A statewide analysis of 1,700 cases reported from January till June 10 this year also found that the dominating lineage in Maharashtra is the XFG variant of the SARS-CoV2 virus, which causes Covid. The Whole Genome Sequencing of 184 Covid-19 samples from across Maharashtra found that 84 samples had the XFG variant, making it the dominating lineage. The LF.7 variant was detected in 34 samples while 27 samples reported the JN.1 variant. The NB.1.8.1 variant was found in one sample from a 29-year-old woman in Pune, who had previously travelled to Hyderabad on May 16 and later had symptoms like fever, sore throat, headache and stomach pain. Her sample was collected on May 26 and sent for genome sequencing, according to state health authorities. Overall, a total of 18,885 suspected samples were tested this year of which 1,700 were Covid-19 positive. Of these, 753 Covid cases were reported from Mumbai and 443 from Pune and the Covid positivity rate stands at 9 per cent. The maximum number of cases were reported in May (742) and June (951). Presently, 105 patients have been hospitalised of which 34 are from Pune, 22 from Navi Mumbai, 15 from Mumbai and 11 from Thane. Fifteen persons require intensive care while one is on ventilator support. A total of 21 deaths have been reported. As per the report a total of 1,064 persons have recovered. Meanwhile, of the 1,700 cases, an equal number of men and women had the infection while an age-wise analysis found that 291 persons are in the age group 21 to 30 years, 360 in the 31-40 age group, 262 in the 41 to 50 age group and 190 in the 51 to 60 age group. There were 208 persons in the 61-70 years age group, who had Covid infection, while 170 were in the 71-80 age group. Since 2020, Maharashtra reported over 81.80 lakh cases and 1.48 lakh deaths. The state authorities conducted a review of the Covid situation and as per the report since 2020, Maharashtra has reported a total of 81,80,064 Covid cases and 148,623 deaths. Last year there were 5,528 Covid cases and 35 deaths while in 2023 Maharashtra had reported 36,173 cases and 137 deaths. A mock drill of the state's preparedness to deal with Covid cases also indicated that there were 2572 ventilator supported beds, 3781 ICU beds, 13871 oxygen supported beds and 9658 beds without oxygen support. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Covid 19 this year: Over 100 cases in Pune, 500 in Mumbai
Maharashtra has so far reported a total of 873 Covid-19 cases, of which more than 100 are in Pune, while close to 500 are in Mumbai. While a district-wise analysis is underway at the health department, officials said they were following strict guidelines issued by the Union government and not testing everyone for SARS-CoV2 virus. This year, ten deaths have been reported till date. 'We are testing samples of patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) and 5 percent of those with Influenza-like Illness (ILI),' Dr Babita Kamalapurkar, joint director of health, Maharashtra told The Indian Express. In Pune, health authorities said that overall, there were 108 cases of Covid-19. A total of 12,011 samples suspected of Covid-19 have been screened, of which 873 have tested positive. Of these, 369 persons have recovered. On Monday, the state health department logged in 59 new cases of which 20 were from Mumbai, four from Thane, one from Pune rural areas, 17 from Pune Municipal Corporation areas, two each from Pimpri Chinchwad, Satara, Kolhapur, one from Sangli and eight from Sambhajinagar. A circular was also issued on Monday by the public health department secretaries Nipun Vinayak and Virendra Singh, instructing district surveillance units to closely monitor the SARI/ILI cases. Samples that have tested positive for Covid-19 will be sent to the regional Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories for whole genome sequencing. A clear message has been relayed in the circular that advises elderly persons and those with co-morbid conditions to avoid large gatherings or alternatively wear a face mask. There has been seasonal upswings and a slow but steady rise in acute respiratory infections across the country, health officials said. More than 90 per cent cases are from Kerala, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Covid cases, according to officials, largely have mild symptoms like fever, cough and sore throat. However, health authorities have now advised medical colleges and hospitals and corporations to ensure preparedness that includes adequate number of hospital ward and ICU beds, PSA plants and also conduct mock drills.
Hans India
02-06-2025
- Science
- Hans India
IIT Madras study shows viruses follow seasonal and yearly cycles
New Delhi: Amid a fresh wave of Covid-19, caused by the SARS-CoV2, a new study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras showed that viruses follow seasonal and yearly cycles. The international study, undertaken along with a team of scientists from the universities of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas at Austin, focussed on viruses in freshwater lakes. The researchers used cutting-edge Machine Learning (ML) tools to study 465 freshwater lake samples from Madison, Wisconsin, collected over more than 20 years -- representing the longest DNA-based monitoring of a natural environment on Earth. By sequencing all the DNA from the lakes using a method called metagenomics, the researchers reconstructed 1.3 million virus genomes. The study enabled the researchers to learn how viruses change with the seasons, over decades, and in response to environmental shifts. 'Viruses follow seasonal and yearly cycles, with many reappearing year after year, showing remarkable predictability,' said the researchers in the paper, published in the Nature Microbiology Journal. 'Viruses can 'steal' genes from their hosts and repurpose them for their own benefit. Viruses evolve over-time, with some genes becoming more dominant due to natural selection,' they added. The findings also revealed the vital roles viruses play in ecosystems, not just by influencing the environment but also by supporting other organisms. The team found 578 examples of viral genes that help with critical processes like photosynthesis and methane use -- highlighting how viruses are beneficial to the health and stability of natural systems. 'The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us just how important it is to track viruses. Understanding how viruses emerge, evolve, and interact with their environments is critical -- not only for responding to pandemics but also for recognising the vital roles they play in ecosystems. Yet, long-term studies of viral communities, particularly in natural environments, are rare,' said Dr. Karthik Anantharaman, Visiting Professor, at Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras. 'This lack of data creates a significant knowledge gap, hindering our ability to predict how viruses influence both human health and environmental stability. By investing in long-term viral monitoring, we can better prepare for future outbreaks and uncover the complex ways viruses contribute to the health of our planet,' added Anantharaman, who is also an Associate Professor of Microbial and Viral Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, US. In addition, studying viruses in freshwater systems can transform how we manage water resources, natural ecosystems, and public health, said the team. These findings also open doors to innovative strategies for ecosystem management, such as using viruses to restore balance in disrupted environments such as polluted lakes.
India.com
01-06-2025
- Health
- India.com
Corona cases jump 1300% in 9 days, 21 deaths in just..., active cases surge to...
File/Representational Corona cases: Amid the latest wave of Covid-19, the number of SARS-CoV2 infections in the country has risen to 3783, rising at a rate of 1372 % in the last nine days. As many as 511 new cases were recorded from the previous day, according to the latest update by the Health Ministry on Saturday. Meanwhile, 255 patients were discharged or migrated in the last 24 hours, indicating an improvement in recovery. According to the website of the Health Department, there were 257 cases in India on May 22. As per the data, Kerala has the highest number of cases at 1400. Maharashtra has 485 active cases and Delhi has 436 active cases. There have been 28 deaths due to corona since January. Out of these, 21 people have died in the last 2 days. Kerala with 1,147 cases is the worst-hit state, followed by Maharashtra (424), Delhi (294), and Gujarat (223). The highest number of deaths have been reported from Maharashtra (7), followed by Kerala (5), and Delhi (2). Meanwhile, 255 patients were discharged or migrated in the last 24 hours, indicating an improvement in recovery. The cumulative number of recovered cases since January 1 stands at 1,170. Kerala (72), Delhi (77), and Maharashtra (34) contributed the highest number of recoveries on the day. As per the latest data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), set up under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 — descendants of JN.1 Covid variant in the country –are responsible for the rise in SARS-CoV-2 cases in the country. Common symptoms associated with these variants include fever, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, and exhaustion. Recently, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) assured the country that there is nothing to worry about as the infections are not severe. (With inputs from agencies)
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Odisha reports first Covid death of the season
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha reported its first Covid-related fatality of the season after an 85-year-old man from the capital city succumbed at his residence on Saturday. Sources said swab samples of the elderly man was collected and sent for tests after he developed symptoms and fell sick. His test reports confirmed that he was positive for SARS-CoV2. Odisha has reported a total of eight Covid cases in May. The tally includes five from Bhubaneswar, two from Cuttack and one from Khurda. Other patients are in stable condition and are recovering well, sources said. Director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said he has been informed of the death and has asked officials to inquire into it. 'An audit will be conducted to ascertain whether the elderly man had comorbidities, and the primary cause of his death,' Mishra told TNIE. So far, 3,395 Covid cases and 22 deaths have been reported in May in the country. In Odisha, recent genome sequencing has identified LF.7.9 and XGF as the dominant sub-variants in circulation. WHO has classified these as variants under-monitoring. Health secretary Aswathy S urged people to remain vigilant but not panic. She emphasised that the circulating variant has not led to any serious complications among patients so far.
