India reports 324 cases of COVID-19 sub-variants KP.1 and KP.2. Here`s what you need to know – WION

According to INSACOG sources cited by news agency PTI on Tuesday, India has documented 324 instances of COVID-19 so far. Of those, 290 cases are of KP.2 and 34 cases are of KP.1, sub-variants of JN1 (a branch of the Omicron variant) that are responsible for the spike in cases in Singapore.

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The report highlighted that there is no rise in hospitalisation or serious instances, therefore there is no need for alarm or panic. Mutations will continue to occur rapidly, as is typical of viruses such as SARS-CoV2.

According to data gathered by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), there have been 34 KP.1 cases reported from seven states and union territories, with 23 of those cases coming from West Bengal. Maharashtra has reported four KP.1 cases, Gujarat and Rajasthan have reported two, while Goa, Haryana, and Uttarakhand have reported one.

Out of all the states that have reported KP.2 cases, INSACOG has identified around 290 cases nationwide, with 148 of those cases coming from Maharashtra alone. Other states and Union territories that record KP.2 sub-variants include:

The report also said that hospital samples are selected in a systematic manner to detect any shift in the severity of the virus-related condition, and that INSACOG is capable of identifying the appearance of any new variant.

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It is pertinent to note that Singapore is currently dealing with a new wave of COVID-19, as reported by the authorities, who counted over 25,900 cases between May 5 and May 11. Every week, the instances are almost doubling. A health alert from the government advises people to wear masks once more.

According to Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH), the estimated number of COVID-19 infections for the week of May 511 increased to 25,900, a 90% rise from the 13,700 cases recorded the week before.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), JN.1 and its sub-lineages, including KP.1 and KP.2, remain the most common COVID-19 variations worldwide, with KP.2 designated as a Variant Under Monitoring. Scientists have also given KP.1 and KP.2 the nickname 'FLiRT', which comes from the technical nomenclature of their mutations.

(With inputs from agencies)

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India reports 324 cases of COVID-19 sub-variants KP.1 and KP.2. Here`s what you need to know - WION