India reports 1 case of NB.1.8.1 & 4 cases of LF.7 Covid variants

NEW DELHI: India has reported one case of NB.1.8.1 and four cases of LF.7 - the two new Covid variants that are being linked to the rise of Covid-19 cases in China, Hong Kong and few other nations. While one case of NB.1.8.1 was identified in April in Tamil Nadu, four cases of LF.7 were detected in Gujarat in May, govt sources said citing data collected by Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium - a consortium of labs monitoring the infection trend since the Covid-19 pandemic. Millions were affected by it and at least 5 lakh people succumbed to it in the country, though some estimates have suggested that the number of deaths caused by the respiratory infection during the pandemic may be much higher.

Post 2021, Covid cases declined. However, after four years, a surge is being observed again. Health ministry sources said, as of May 19, India has reported 257 active cases. The sources, however, added that symptoms are not severe and hospitalisation was not being required which suggests the variant is mild.

The matter regarding Covid cases was reviewed by health secretary Saturday. "Some Covid-19 cases have been reported mainly from states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, etc," said govt sources.

"It may also be mentioned that there have been media reports regarding increase in Covid 19 cases in Singapore, Hong Kong and other countries in recent past. It has been ascertained from respective National IHR focal points that there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to the previously circulating variants," sources said.

Nonetheless, several states have brought back guidelines to prevent infections and make preparations to deal with any potential surge. As of May 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring, not as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest, govt sources added.