• Four cases of Omicron sub-variant BF.7 have been detected in India so far
The latest COVID surge in five other countries including China, Japan and the US has raised a question in India as well: Can this virus BF.7 COVID variant cause another wave in India? Countries such as China, Japan and the United States are seeing an increase in cases, believed to be caused by BF.7, a subtype of Omicron. So far four cases of Omicron sub-variant BF.7 have been detected in India.
As per the Centre's guidelines, two per cent of international passengers arriving at Indian airports are to be tested.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has already held a meeting with top officials and experts to take stock of the Covid situation in the country.
what the experts say
Experts have said that in view of the increase in cases in some countries, there is a need for stronger surveillance and vigilance.
Dr. NK Arora, Chairman, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) said that the current situation of Covid in India is under control and there is nothing to panic.
However, he added that people should follow Covid-appropriate behavior and those eligible should take precautionary doses.
He also said that fresh outbreaks and hospitalizations of severe Covid cases are unlikely as people in India have the advantage of 'hybrid immunity' i.e. natural immunity due to infection reinforced by vaccination.
Dr Randeep Guleria, former director of AIIMS, told PTI on Friday, "Overall, there is no increase in Covid cases and India is in a comfortable position at the moment."
97 per cent of India's eligible population has been given the first dose while 90 per cent have taken the second dose as well. But, only 27% of the eligible population has taken the preventive dose.
BF.7 version
Tripti Gilada, Infectious Disease Specialist, Masina Hospital, Mumbai said that lineages and sub- lineages arise due to mutation of the virus. The BF7 is such a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant. It has been observed that the transmissibility of the Omicron variant is higher than that of the previous strain. Early studies of the BF7 variant suggest that it is still a transmissible variant, although with a lower mortality rate as with other Omicron variants.
"Countries that have already gone through Omicron Wave L, for example India, will be less susceptible to future subtypes," he added.
Signs and symptoms of the BF7 type are similar to those of other Omicron subtypes, such as fever, sore throat, runny nose. Cases of BF7 type pneumonia are definitely less. Dr Tripti Gilada said that not much hospitalization has been seen with Omicron and the initial data from countries also tells us that the mortality rate of BF7 is low.
He further said that the yardstick to measure the severity of this Covid wave should not be just the number of cases, as most of these would be mild. Instead there should be a moderate to severe number of cases taking into account those requiring oxygen and immediate hospitalisation.
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