The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) is expected to issue a bulletin on the new sub-variants BA.5.1.7 and BF.7 of Omicron reported in India.
Sources said, “this is just a signal to be alert and watch the whole scenario, BF.7 was reported in Gujarat a few days ago,”. For the uninitiated, BF.7 has been reported in Gujarat which has been confirmed by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre.
BF.7 known as ‘Omicron spawn’ was first detected in China and has now reached the US, UK, Australia and Belgium. The sub-variant first originated in a region of Mongolia in China and is now entering other parts and posing new threats.
According to sources, there is nothing to panic and the situation is being monitored. According to reports, Omicron variants BF.7 and BA.5.1.7 are behind the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in China. However, experts have suggested precautionary and Covid-appropriate behavior ahead of the upcoming festive season.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently stated that the Omicron VOC lineage may require priority attention and monitoring.
