Hyderabad: As concerns grow about rising Covid-19 cases in the country, for the first time, one of the samples sent by Telangana health officials for genome sequencing has been found to carry a new Covid-19 sub-variant called XFG. This was revealed by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the central body that tracks changes in the virus.Of the five samples sent from Telangana, four — two men and two women — showed another recent sub-variant called LF.7.9, while the XFG strain was detected in a sample from one man.Dr Kiran Madala, co-chairman of the public relations and social media committee of IMA Telangana and a Covid-19 researcher, confirmed to TOI that both variants were detected in Telangana and the sequences were uploaded on INSACOG’s portal. Both XFG and LF.7.9 are sub-lineages of Omicron and trace their origin to the JN.1 variant, which led to a global wave in late 2023 and early 2024.Nationally, these two sub-variants are among the most common at present. As per INSACOG data till Monday, 172 samples were identified as XFG, 82 as LF.7.9, followed by 35 XFJ and 18 others.Telangana has now joined Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal, where the XFG variant has already been detected. Across India, around 163 cases of XFG have been recorded so far, as per INSACOG.The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking eight sub-variants globally, including NB.1.8.1, which is prevalent in Singapore. “There are ongoing studies on the transmissibility and impact of XFG, LF.7.9, and XFJ. So far, they appear mild. WHO hasn’t issued any special advisory on them yet,” said Dr Kiran Madala, who is also a professor at Gandhi Medical College. “Covid-19 has become endemic and is not severe in most cases,” he added.While the majority of cases remain mild, experts advise caution for vulnerable groups. “According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, 66% of current respiratory viral infections in India are Covid-related. However, hospitalisation is low, including in Telangana. People with two or more comorbidities, weakened immunity, or above 70 years should remain alert,” he said.Telangana currently has nine active Covid cases, down from 10 a day earlier, according to the Union health ministry dashboard.“There’s no reason to panic,” said Dr Ravinder Nayak, director of public health and family welfare. “The new sub-variants are part of the virus’s natural evolution and are not showing significant clinical symptoms.”
