2 Emerging Covid Variants Driving New Wave In Asia, Detected In India

Two new variants of Covid-19 that are driving the fresh wave of cases in Asia have been detected in India, according to INSACOG data. 

One case of the newly emerging COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 and four instances of the LF.7 type have been found in the country, as per the data, reported PTI. 

As of May 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring, not as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest. However, these variants have been reportedly driving the rise in Covid cases in China and parts of Asia. 

As per the data from the India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), one case of NB.1.8.1 was identified in April in Tamil Nadu while four cases of LF.7 were detected in Gujarat in May.

The most common variant in India remains JN.1 attributing to 53 per cent of samples tested, followed by BA.2 (26 per cent) and other Omicron sublineages (20 per cent).

While WHO has classified NB.1.8.1 as posing a low public health risk globally in its preliminary risk assessment, its spike protein mutations such as A435S, V445H, and T478I suggest increased transmissibility and immune evasion compared to other variants.

Covid Cases In India 

As of May 19, India logged 257 active cases of Covid-19, mirroring a surge in infections in Asian countries including Singapore and Hong Kong. 

The Director General of Health Services chaired a meeting to review the situation. Experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, ICMR, and other key health institutions attended the meeting. 

However, clusters of infections have been reported from many cities. Delhi recorded 23 new cases while Andhra Pradesh logged four new cases in the last 24 hours. 

Telangana confirmed one, and a nine-month-old in Bengaluru tested positive amid a gradual rise over the past 20 days. Kerala reported 273 cases in May alone.

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