Covid fourth wave won't be as deadly as second one, say experts; active cases 1,326, death toll 14
PTC Web Desk: Covid-19 cases are once again on the rise across India, with 1,326 active cases reported and 14 confirmed deaths so far. The resurgence comes amid the detection of four new Covid variants in the country, with JN.1 emerging as the most prevalent strain. Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of deaths (6), while isolated cases and fatalities are also being reported from other states.
Medical experts say though Covid surges have occurred post-2022 due to emerging variants, none led to a severe crisis. “There is no need for panic at this stage. We’ve seen similar spikes before without major complications,” they added.
They said if a fourth wave emerged, its impact was expected to last between 21 and 28 days and it would not be as deadly as the second wave.
Experts also emphasised that vaccinated individuals must continue to observe precautions. “Vaccination may not completely protect against new variants,” they said, adding that immunity from vaccines hasn’t fully waned and can still help the body fight off infections.
Recent cases and deaths across India
Jammu & Kashmir: Two students from Kerala, studying at Government Dental College in Srinagar, tested positive.
Maharashtra (Thane): A 67-year-old man with hypertension and diabetes passed away after testing positive. He had not received vaccine. A woman and a 21-year-old man also died after being hospitalised.
Chandigarh: A 40-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, working in Ludhiana, died during treatment after experiencing respiratory distress. He tested positive upon arrival at the hospital.
Rajasthan (Jaipur): Two deaths reported on May 26 — one patient was found dead at a railway station and another, a 26-year-old TB patient, died at a private hospital.
Karnataka (Bengaluru): An 84-year-old man died on May 17 due to multi-organ failure. His Covid-19 test returned positive on May 24.
Kerala: Two deaths have also been reported.
ICMR confirms four new variants in India
Four new Covid variants have been identified through genome sequencing, mainly from southern and western India. These include: LF.7, XFG, JN.1 and NB.1.8.1.
NB.1.8.1 features spike protein mutations such as A435S, V445H, and T478I, making it more transmissible and less responsive to existing immune defenses.
JN.1 variant is dominant strain in India
JN.1 is currently the most frequently detected variant in India, appearing in over 50% of all tested samples. It is a sublineage of the Omicron variant BA.2.86, first identified in August 2023. WHO described it a “variant of interest” in December 2023 due to its 30 mutations that contribute to immune escape.
According to Johns Hopkins University, JN.1 is more transmissible than previous strains but is not considered highly severe. However, its symptoms may persist for several days or even weeks. In some cases, patients may experience “long COVID”, where symptoms linger even after recovery from the initial infection.
- With inputs from agencies
