The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (Insacog) has issued its latest bulletin, shedding light on the evolving landscape of COVID-19 variants in India and worldwide. As of August, India has witnessed a significant presence of the recombinant variant XBB.1.16, constituting approximately 25% of infections across various regions.
Despite this notable prevalence, XBB sub-lineages continue to be the dominant strains, accounting for a substantial 75% of current infections. Fortunately, the bulletin offers a reassuring note: no increase in disease severity or hospitalization has been associated with these variants.
Omicron and its sub-lineages maintain their dominance within India, with the prevalence of XBB.1.16 observed in different parts of the country. This variant was responsible for nearly a quarter of all infections reported last week. On the other hand, other XBB sub-lineages have claimed the majority share, but without a corresponding rise in disease severity or hospital admissions.
Globally, Insacog has identified three variants of interest (VOI) – XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and EG.5. Additionally, they are closely monitoring six other variants. EG.5 has seen a gradual increase in prevalence across 48 countries, rising from 7.5% in recent weeks. In contrast, XBB.1.5 has seen a decline in prevalence, being supplanted by XBB.1.16 as the dominant global variant. XBB.1.5 has been detected in 121 countries and accounts for 13.2% and 12.7% of cases. Meanwhile, XBB.1.16 has been reported in 101 countries. Fortunately, as per available evidence, the public health risk associated with EG.5 is assessed to be low globally, and no changes in disease severity have been reported to date.
Insacog, comprised of 54 laboratories, plays a pivotal role in monitoring genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus in India. To date, they have sequenced approximately 332,427 COVID-19 positive samples. These samples are collected from sentinel sites and international passengers arriving in India. The goal is to track the emergence of new virus strains, monitor their transmission rates, and assess their severity.
Since the onset of the pandemic, India has reported a total of 4.49 crore COVID-19 cases. Over the past 24 hours, only 47 new cases have been reported, and the number of active cases stands at 466. The unfortunate death toll has reached 5,32,031 according to data from the Union Health Ministry. However, it’s worth noting that the country is currently experiencing an all-time low in reported cases, signaling a hopeful turn in the fight against the pandemic.
