Four cases of BF.7 Covid variant found in India

 

Four new cases of BF.7, a variant of Covid-19 leading to the surge in infections in the People’s Republic of China, have been detected inIndia.

Two cases have been found in Gujarat. Reportedly, a 61-year-old NRI (Non-resident Indian) woman living in Vadodara has tested positive for the BF.7 variant. She came from the United States to Vadodara in November. Later on, she tested positive for the virus. She was in isolation and took three doses of the vaccine.

A man living in the Gota area of Ahmedabad was also tested positive for the virus. He came from abroad in September and contracted the BF.7 variant of Covid-19. It was found that he was infected with the BF.7 variant through genome sequencing.

Another case was also reported in Odisha. Reportedly, another case was also detected in India. BF.7, a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5, can cause reinfection or infect even those vaccinated.

Indian Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also held a meeting with senior officials and experts about the current COVID-19 situation in the country. According to the expert, vaccination could protect people from Covid-19 infections.

The variant has increased infection in China. The hospitalisation rate also increased in the country due to the rising number of cases. The variants became dominant in the United States and several European countries. It accounted for more than 5% of United States (US) cases and 7.26% of United Kingdom cases in October.

Earlier, Omicron increased Covid infections in India. The virus used to spread faster than the Delta virus. Subsequently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the Omicron variant as a ‘variant of concern’ in November 2021.

The variant also increased hospitalisation rates in the country. It navigated the world into the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections.