800 Daily Covid Cases Had Been Reached After 4 Months Due to H3N2 Fear; 76 Fresh XBB Samples. 1.16 Alternative Found

According to statistics from the Union health ministry, daily Covid cases in India have surpassed 800 after more than 4 months amid worries over an increase in H3N2 influenza infections.

In the previous day, 843 additional Covid infections were recorded, bringing the total number of current cases to 5,389. There are now 4.46 crore cases pending in the nation. Nowadays, active cases make up 0.01 percent of all illnesses.

Four deaths brought the total number of deaths to 5,30,799, according to figures updated at 8 am on Saturday.

Kerala was able to reconcile two deaths whereas Jharkhand and Maharashtra only reported one fatality each.

NEW COVID VARIANT FOR XBB.1.16

The recent increase in Covid cases in India, according to experts, may be caused by the fast proliferating XBB.1 descendent, XBB.1.16. This subvariant is growing in popularity in at least four countries, including India, according to a global website that monitors Covid variants.

INSACOG data show that the XBB.1.16 variation of COVID-19 has been identified in 76 samples to far.

According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the variation has been identified in Karnataka (30), Maharashtra (29), Puducherry (7), Delhi (5), Telangana (2), Gujarat (1), Himachal Pradesh (1), and Odisha (1).

Two samples that were positive for the XBB 1.16 variation were initially discovered in January, and a total of 59 samples were discovered in February.

The INSACOG reported that 15 samples of the XBB 1.16 variant had been discovered so far in March.

STATES OF CENTRE CAUTIONS

In light of a potential localized viral transmission, the Government on Thursday requested that six states—Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka—follow a risk assessment-based strategy to prevent and restrict the development of Covid-19 infections.

"There are a few states which are reporting increased numbers of cases suggesting probable localised spread of illness," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan stated in a letter to these governments.

Moreover, Bhushan encouraged these governments to concentrate on putting the appropriate controls in place for efficient virus management and to do a micro-level analysis of the Covid issue.

In order to identify early warning signs of the spread of infection, the Union Health Secretary also emphasized the importance of routinely monitoring new and emerging clusters of Covid cases, influenza-like illnesses (ILI), and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases in all healthcare facilities or through specialized fever clinics.

H3N2 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK ALERT

451 instances of H3N2 have been documented in the nation between January 2 and March 5, according to information provided by the Union health ministry.

At least nine individuals have already perished nationwide as a result of the H3N2 influenza virus, with a 73-year-old man from Pune, Maharashtra, being the most recent victim.

Hospitals in Delhi and Maharashtra have been urged to be on alert due to the increased danger of the H3N2 influenza pandemic.

The Delhi government also issued a warning earlier this week advising people to take extra measures and behave in a Covid-appropriate manner, particularly youngsters and the elderly.

In several states, such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, influenza cases are increasing.