By Andreas Lundberg 
India is witnessing a resurgence of COVID-19, with 1,045 active cases reported across the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The past week alone saw 787 new cases, alongside 10 deaths, with Maharashtra recording the highest toll at five fatalities. Kerala leads with 430 active cases, followed by Maharashtra (210), Delhi (104), and Gujarat (83). In Karnataka, 73 of the 80 active cases are concentrated in Bengaluru.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has identified four new variants—LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1—circulating in the country, primarily in southern and western states. ICMR Director Dr. Rajiv Bahl noted that while these variants, particularly JN.1, are highly transmissible due to mutations like A435S, V445H, and T478I in the spike protein, they are not deemed highly severe. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified them as “variants under monitoring” rather than “variants of concern,” though vigilance is advised.
Maharashtra reported a death in Thane on Monday, where a woman succumbed during treatment, following the death of a 21-year-old man on May 25. In Jaipur, Rajasthan, two deaths were recorded on Monday—one at a railway station, where the deceased tested positive for COVID-19, and another involving a 26-year-old man with pre-existing tuberculosis in a private hospital. Karnataka reported the death of an 84-year-old in Bengaluru on May 17 due to multi-organ failure, with a positive COVID-19 report confirmed on May 24. Kerala also recorded two deaths.
JN.1, a sublineage of Omicron’s BA.2.86, is the dominant variant in India, detected in over half of tested samples. It is known for evading immunity and was declared a “variant of interest” by WHO in December 2023. While it spreads easily, experts, including those from Johns Hopkins University, state it is not particularly severe. Symptoms may persist, potentially indicating long COVID in some cases.
Dr. Bahl urged the public to remain cautious but not alarmed, as sequencing efforts continue to monitor the variants. Similar variants are driving case surges in China and other Asian nations, highlighting the need for sustained surveillance.
Ethan Caldwell