Latest news with #Budhiraja
News18
23-05-2025
- Health
- News18
India Sees Mild Rise In COVID Cases, Here's What It Means According To Experts
Last Updated: India has witnessed a mild increase in COVID cases after the the number of infections rose in Singapore and Hong Kong. Experts reveal what you need to know and how to stay safe. Following the rise in COVID-19 infections across South Asia, primarily Singapore and Hong Kong, India has also witnessed a mild increase in cases of COVID-19. As per the Union Ministry of Health, 257 active cases have been reported as of May 19. While the cases in India have been mild as of now, doctors have urged people to remain careful. Lesser Common Symptoms Of COVID Interestingly, two less common symptoms – diarrhoea and conjunctivitis (pink eye) – are drawing attention during the current COVID wave. While these signs weren't widely linked to previous surges, they're now appearing more frequently. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has noted that pink eye, though rare, can occur in COVID-19 cases. Similarly, research from the Mayo Clinic found that some infected individuals experienced gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and loose stools. Until recently, however, these symptoms weren't recognised as typical indicators of the virus. Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director of Max Healthcare & Senior Director at the Institute of Internal Medicine, Delhi, says, 'The good news is that the present variant, which is causing COVID in these countries, is not much different from what we experienced during the last waves of COVID. The variant that is being reported is JN.1, which is the last prominent dominant variant in the last COVID outbreak in various countries, including the US. What we know of these variants, which belong to the Omicron family, is that they do not cause a severe illness in most people. However, this is infectious and it spreads fast in a community region or a country." Why Has COVID Resurged? Dr Budhiraja continued, 'The precautions and the symptoms caused by this variant are more or less the same as those of any typical COVID symptom." How To Protect Yourself From COVID The most effective way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is by sticking to the basics and staying vigilant. Wear a mask in crowded or enclosed spaces, avoid travel to regions seeing a surge in cases, maintain proper hygiene, and steer clear of close contact with anyone showing symptoms. If you begin to feel unwell, it's important to isolate promptly and consult your doctor about testing and further care. First Published:
News18
19-05-2025
- Health
- News18
COVID-19 Resurgence in Asia: Why India Must Stay Alert But Not Panic
Last Updated: Covid-19: 'There is absolutely no need to panic, but we must stay alert and vigilant over the coming weeks,' says Dr. Sandeep Budhiraja. As the summer of 2025 unfolds, reports of a COVID-19 uptick from countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand have begun to surface, prompting renewed global attention. While such spikes were once synonymous with colder months, this unusual summer wave has led public health experts to advise increased vigilance—though not alarm. Dr. Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director at Max Healthcare and Senior Director at the Institute of Internal Medicine, offers a measured perspective, 'What's unusual is that this current surge is happening in the summer months, which typically are not known for respiratory virus peaks." He attributes the uptick in infections to the JN.1 variant, a sub-lineage of Omicron that previously made headlines about a year ago. Despite its contagious nature, JN.1 is not significantly different or more severe than past variants, Dr. Budhiraja reassures. 'This variant, like others in the Omicron family, doesn't typically cause serious illness in most people. But it does spread fast," he says. No Need for Alarm, But Vigilance is Key While the symptoms remain consistent with typical COVID-19—fever, cough, fatigue, and respiratory discomfort—Dr. Budhiraja stresses that there is 'nothing unique or more dangerous" about this strain. Nevertheless, he urges countries, including India, to remain alert and implement the same tried-and-tested public health measures: A critical aspect of containment, according to Dr. Budhiraja, lies in genomic surveillance and international reporting mechanisms. 'Countries must have a robust reporting system and genomic testing to trace which variant is spreading," he says. India, he advises, should especially focus on monitoring international arrivals from affected regions and testing symptomatic individuals. 'If we see any surge, particularly among travellers, then screening and isolation will be necessary. But at present, such steps on a mass scale are not required." Waning Immunity Could Be a Factor A key insight shared by Dr Budhiraja is the role of waning immunity in the resurgence. 'The virus hasn't become more virulent—it's our immunity that might have declined," he explains, pointing out that vaccination drives have understandably slowed down, and most populations haven't received booster doses in recent months or years. This leaves segments of the population—especially the elderly, immunocompromised, or those with chronic conditions—vulnerable to infection. If cases rise in India, these high-risk groups should be prioritized for booster vaccinations. India's Current Status: No Surge, No Panic Encouragingly, India is not currently witnessing any significant rise in COVID-19 cases. The number of active cases remains below 100, which, in the words of Dr. Budhiraja, 'is at a very baseline level." 'There is absolutely no need to panic. But we must remain alert over the next few weeks to monitor how the situation in Southeast Asia evolves and whether it begins to impact other regions," he says. Conclusion: Stay Calm, Stay Prepared As the world enters a new phase of coexistence with COVID-19, experts like Dr. Budhiraja are urging both caution and composure. The resurgence in parts of Asia serves as a reminder that while the virus has become endemic, its presence hasn't vanished. 'COVID never went away," says Dr. Budhiraja. 'It simply remained at low levels. Periodic outbreaks are part of its natural behaviour now." The path forward, he adds, is not panic-driven lockdowns or restrictions, but measured public health responses, international cooperation, and continued vigilance. First Published:
India.com
19-05-2025
- Health
- India.com
COVID-19 resurgence in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong: Things you must know about JN.1 variant
It was just a few years ago when the world was hit by a major pandemic of COVID-19, infecting millions and causing widespread disruptions. But after a long lull, the world tried to re-adjust to the post-pandemic reality. However, once again, an alarming situation has caused a buzz. Several parts of Asia, like Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Thailand, are seeing a sharp surge in the number of coronavirus cases. Driven by the new Omicron sub-variant like JN.1 and its descendants, it is spreading like wildfire. Health care officials and professionals have given a heads-up on an alarming situation and have been staying on high alert. They have also warned people to be more cautious and be vigilant about hygiene. From 11,000 cases last week of April to over 14,000 cases in early May 2025, the infection has seen a surge. However, until now, there has been no evidence on whether the latest variant is more transmissible or severe than the prior one. According to the report by New18, the subvariants of JN 1, like LF.7 and NB.1.8, are currently the most common variants and account for two-thirds of the recorded cases in Singapore. India is also not left behind in being affected by these cases, currently, there are about 93 active COVID-19 cases in India as of May 19. Even though the jump in India is not as high as of now, however, doctors do believe that India could witness a similar surge, considering the drop in immunity of the population. 'The recent surge in countries like Hong Kong and China is being linked to waning antibodies, and the same could hold true for India,' Dr Vikas Maurya, Senior Director and Head of Pulmonology at Fortis Shalimar Bagh, told ET HealthWorld. He further added, 'It is possible that India might see a similar spike. In China, the rise in cases is attributed to decreased antibodies or immunity over time — the same could happen here. Many people in India were vaccinated a long time ago. If their immunity has dropped, more individuals could catch and spread the infection'. Dr. Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director, Max Healthcare, also emphasised the unusual timing of this spread because he believes that respiratory issues are typically not at peak in summer. 'What is disturbing is that this wave is increasingly affecting populations in Southeast Asia during the summer months — a time when respiratory viruses typically don't peak,' Budhiraja added. 'COVID-19 has never truly disappeared — it has lingered in an endemic form, occasionally causing local or regional outbreaks. As immunity diminishes over time, especially among vulnerable groups like the elderly or those with comorbidities, the virus finds an opportunity to spread,' Budhiraja said. The BA.2.86 variant is a descendant of the JN1 variant. It is also called Pirola and was initially seen in August 2023. In December, the World Health Organisation labeled it a 'Variant of Interest.' It possesses approximately 30 mutations that make it evade immunity more efficiently compared to most prior variants. While BA.2.86 did not achieve dominance, JN.1 evolved greater transmission capacity through further mutations, according to Johns Hopkins University. Yale Medicine also adds that JN.1 is slightly different from its parent strain because it has a single mutation in its spike protein, which could potentially give it an advantage in evading the immune system, although this would require further research. Symptoms are mostly the same as previous strains. Individuals affected by JN.1 might have sore throat, fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, tiredness, body pain, and sometimes loss of smell or taste. Most of the mild infections are self-manageable at home, but individuals with low immunity should remain cautious.
