Current surge of COVID-19 infection in China and its impact on India.

BACKGROUND

COVID-19, the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2, is a global health calamity and one of the greatest challenges faced by the humankind across the globe. The virus originated in Wuhan, China and spread rapidly to more than 200 countries/nations, affected more than 600 billion individuals and caused around 65 lakh deaths worldwide. Since the start of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 mutates and accumulates genetic variations which constantly resulted in the emergence of new variants.

OBJECTIVE

The current article discusses about the new omicron sub variant BF.7, and how this BF.7 variant may pose risk in India, if it overrides the current COVID-19 circulating variants.

CONTENT

The emergence and potential consequences of the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants usually augment virus transmissibility and host immune evasion. The current spurt in COVID-19 infections in China which has alarmed people around the world, is believed to be driven by an omicron sub variant BF.7. Although India has been reporting a "steady decline" in COVID-19 cases, we need constant surveillance to keep a track of the new emerging variants in circulation. Keeping in mind, the new surge in COVID-19 cases across many nations, we discuss about the new variant and its possible impact on India.