Four cases of BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron, which is driving the huge Covid surge in China, have been detected in India. The cases were found in the state of Gujrat and Odisha. However, the government hasn’t mandated any protocol as of now. Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India has said there’s no need to panic. But to ensure safety, wear masks in crowded spaces.
BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has the strongest infection ability. It is highly transmissible, has a shorter incubation period, and is more likely to cause reinfection or infect even those vaccinated.
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The BF.7 Covid Variant In India:
Apart from India, the BF.7 has cases in several other countries, including the US and UK and European nations such as Belgium, Germany, France and Denmark. However, the government is advising not to panic and take proper precautions. Additionally, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday tweeted, “COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are ready to manage any situation.”
To better manage the situation, the union government has asked the states to send samples to labs for genome sequencing. This can help in identifying the variant or sub-variant. A letter from Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to all states says that given the sudden spurt of cases in Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants.
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Experts say that there is a need for continued surveillance to keep track of existing and emerging variants. Lastly, the new variant’s transmission, signs and symptoms will likely overlap with the previous covid variants. Thus, it is advisable to take proper covid precautions for the safety of all.
Sneha Bhabar
An introvert who loves learning and experimenting with new things.