logo
"Rising cases of Covid-19 belong to sub lineage of Omicron virus": CEO, Dangs Lab

"Rising cases of Covid-19 belong to sub lineage of Omicron virus": CEO, Dangs Lab

Time of India28-05-2025
New Delhi: Chief Executive Officer of
Dr. Dangs Lab
, Arjun Dang on Tuesday stated that the rising cases of Covid-19 belonged to the sub-lineage of the Omicron virus.
Dang further stated that in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, the variants that were named as 'Variants under Monitoring' were of types LF7 and NV181 and were more transmissible.
"We must understand that the current spreading variants are again a sublineage of the Omicron virus. Additionally, in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, we have certain other sub-variants that have been named Variants Under Monitoring, and these are basically of two types, LF7 and NV181. Currently, the cases that we are seeing are more transmissible.
They can infect people easily, but again, from the severity perspective, till now, we have not seen any severe cases," Dang told ANI.
He further stated that symptoms of patients were only common cold and flu, and added that hospitalisations currently were minimal.
"All of these are actually presenting as common cold and flu, and the usual symptoms that we have in any kind of common cold, even the hospitalisations, have been minimal," he added.
The CEO further stated that the hospital and staff were better prepared, informed and had better surveillance tools, further stating that the country was in a good place from the preparedness perspective to face the situation effectively.
"There has been an increase in the number of sample requests that we are receiving. But this time, we are better prepared, more informed, and we have better surveillance tools.
With the scientific tests that we have, we are in a good place from the preparedness perspective to face this effectively and minimise any kind of damage that the current wave might cause," he added.
Meanwhile, on May 26, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also confirmed that while Covid-19 cases were reported again in parts of the country, current variants in circulation were showing mild symptoms similar to the Omicron strain.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kennedy Jr says US health dept will halt $500 mn funding for mRNA vaccine projects
Kennedy Jr says US health dept will halt $500 mn funding for mRNA vaccine projects

First Post

timean hour ago

  • First Post

Kennedy Jr says US health dept will halt $500 mn funding for mRNA vaccine projects

The US Health Department will cancel $500 million worth of mRNA vaccine projects targeting COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory viruses, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. announced on Tuesday. The decision affects 22 projects. read more US President Donald Trump holds an executive order on prescription drug pricing next to US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr, during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. Reuters The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will cancel funding and contracts for several vaccine projects aimed at fighting respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced that 22 vaccine projects using mRNA technology, worth a total of $500 million, will be shut down. The move reflects Kennedy's long-standing skepticism about vaccines, particularly those using mRNA technology. Since taking office, Kennedy has reversed previous recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines, dismissed the expert panel responsible for vaccine advice, and refrained from strongly endorsing immunisation even as measles cases rise. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a video posted on social media, Kennedy criticised mRNA vaccines and explained that the decision would impact major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, which are developing mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19, the flu, and bird flu (H5N1). 'To replace the troubled mRNA programs, we're prioritising the development of safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and new platforms that don't fail when viruses mutate,' Kennedy said. However, public health experts strongly disagree with the move. Mike Osterholm, a leading infectious disease specialist from the University of Minnesota, called it 'the most dangerous decision in public health' he's seen in 50 years. He stressed that mRNA technology allows for faster vaccine development, which is crucial in responding to new pandemics. Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said the decision is especially risky with the threat of bird flu still looming. 'mRNA vaccines have certainly saved millions of lives,' he said. Beyond infectious diseases, researchers are exploring mRNA technology for other uses, including cancer treatments. Earlier this year, tech billionaire Larry Ellison praised its potential for cancer therapy at a White House event. Unlike traditional vaccines that rely on growing viruses in eggs or cell cultures, mRNA vaccines use a snippet of genetic code to instruct the body to make a harmless piece of a virus, enough to trigger immune protection. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In its statement, HHS clarified that this decision applies only to the 22 cancelled projects and does not affect other uses of mRNA technology within the department. While mRNA vaccines are already approved for COVID-19 and RSV, no flu vaccine using the technology has yet been authorised. Moderna, which is developing a combined COVID-flu mRNA shot, had said mRNA could speed up flu vaccine production compared to traditional methods.

US Health Secretary RFK Jr. cancels $500 million in funding for vaccine development
US Health Secretary RFK Jr. cancels $500 million in funding for vaccine development

Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • Indian Express

US Health Secretary RFK Jr. cancels $500 million in funding for vaccine development

The US Department of Health and Human Services has decided to cancel contracts and cease funding of mRNA vaccine development activities that were being developed to fight respiratory viruses like flu and COVID-19. The biomedical research unit affected by the decision is Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority which helps companies to develop medical supplies to address health threats in the public, and it had provided billions of dollars for the development of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been a vaccine critic himself for a long time, announced in a statement on Tuesday that $500 million worth of vaccine development projects, all under the mRNA technology, will be paused. We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted. BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We're shifting that funding toward… — Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) August 5, 2025 With this decision, a total of 22 projects are set to be affected out of which some of those were being led by America's leading pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna to prevent flu, H5N1 and COVID-19 among others. The mRNA vaccines hold the credit for slowing down the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. In the statement, Kennedy said he wants the health department to move away from the mRNA vaccines and called on the department to start 'investing in better solutions.' 'We're shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate,' Kennedy said. Kennedy refrained from providing details on what those technologies might be as he asked the health department to move away from the development of mRNA vaccines. The health department added that it was also cancelling multiple pre-award solicitations, including proposals from Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, CSL Seqirus, Gritstone and others.

Trump administration pulls $500 million from vaccine development funding
Trump administration pulls $500 million from vaccine development funding

India Today

timean hour ago

  • India Today

Trump administration pulls $500 million from vaccine development funding

The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary and a long time vaccine critic, announced in a statement Tuesday that $500 million worth of vaccine development projects, all using mRNA technology, will be projects — 22 of them — are being led by some of the nation's leading pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna to prevent flu, COVID-19 and H5N1 infections. The mRNA vaccines are credited with slowing the 2020 coronavirus said in the Tuesday statement that he wants the health department to move away from mRNA vaccines, calling on the department to start 'investing in better solutions.' He provided no details on what those technologies might be.- EndsMust Watch

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store