A total of 76 samples have been found positive for the XBB.1.16 variant of COVID-19 which may be behind the recent increase in cases in the country. According to INSACOG– a department that studies and monitors genome sequencing and virus variation of the circulating strains of COVID-19 in India, the variants in Karnataka (30), Maharashtra (29), Puducherry (7) Delhi (5) has been found. , Telangana (2), Gujarat (1), Himachal Pradesh (1) and Odisha (1), the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) data showed.
The XBB 1.16 variant was first detected in January when two samples tested positive for the variant while a total of 59 samples were detected in February. INSACOG said it has found 15 samples of XBB version 1.16 so far in March.
do not worry
Some experts have attributed the recent increase in COVID-19 cases to this variant. Former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria, who headed the National Covid Task Force, said the rise in Covid cases appears to be driven by the XBB 1.16 variant while influenza cases are due to H3N2.
For both of these, following COVID-appropriate behavior can help prevent the spread of the infection. said Director-Medical Education in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Medanta and former director of AIIMS.
The new XBB.1.16 variant has now been detected in at least 12 countries, with India having the highest number of cases, said Vipin M Vashisht, former convener of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics and consultant pediatrician at Mangala Hospital and Research Centre, Bijnor. After this is the place of America. Brunei, Singapore and the UK.
India reports record number of cases after 6 months
He tweeted, India has seen a 281 per cent increase in cases and 17 per cent increase in deaths in the last 14 days. “All eyes must be on India! If XBB.1.16 aka #Arcturus can succeed in breaking through the ‘strong’ population immunity of Indians, which has seen BA.2.75, BA.5, BQs, XBB successfully resisted the attack of variants like .1.5, the whole world should be seriously worried!!” he said in another tweet.
India’s single-day tally of COVID-19 cases crossed 800 after 126 days on Saturday, while the number of active cases climbed to 5,389.
(With inputs from PTI)
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