Covid-19 In India: As Covid-19 cases surge across India, authorities from various states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, among others, have issued advisories asking people to maintain hygiene and protect themselves from the infection. India has found at least one sample of a new subvariant, NB.1.8.1, as many states report an increase in Covid-19 cases.

It was collected and sequenced in April. The material was sent to INSACOG, India's Covid-19 genome sequencing collaboration, from Tamil Nadu.

The majority of the Sar-CoV-2 samples sequenced in India over the previous several weeks were BA.2 and JN.1 variants. According to recent media reports, Covid-19 instances have increased in Singapore and Hong Kong in the previous several weeks. According to early data, the cases are largely moderate and do not have extraordinary severity or death rates.

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What Is New Covid-19 Subvariant NB.1.8.1?

The World Health Organisation's Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution has designated the Sars-CoV-2 variation NB.1.8.1 as a 'variation Under Monitoring', which means it has substantial changes in virus properties but its epidemiological impact is unknown.

The variation is developed from the recombinant ancestor XDV.1.5.1, with the first samples reported on January 22, 2025. This variation has six spike protein mutations compared to the presently circulating LP 8.1, and eight mutations compared to JN.1.

Some of these alterations have been associated to enhanced affinity for human receptors, which might improve transmission, as well as a decrease in neutralisation, which could allow the virus to evade existing immunity more efficiently.