News Analysis India

Tag: INSACOG

  • Very few recombinant variants of coronavirus have been found in India: INSACOG 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Based on genome-sequencing analysis, the Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia (INSACOG) has said very few recombinant variants of the coronavirus have been found in the country and none of those has shown either increased transmission, locally or otherwise, nor were they associated with severe disease or hospitalisation.

    INSACOG, in its weekly bulletin of April 11 that was released on Wednesday, said the incidences of suspected recombinants and the possible public health relevance are being closely monitored.

    It said a total of 2,40,570 samples have been sequenced till now.

    “Based on genome sequencing analysis, very few recombinant variants have been discovered in India. So far, none showed either increased transmission (locally or otherwise) or was associated with severe disease or hospitalisation,” it said.

    On the global scenario, the INSACOG said two recombinant variants — XD and XE — are being closely monitored worldwide.

    XD, which has an Omicron S gene incorporated into a Delta genome, is found primarily in France.

    “XE is a BA. 1/BA.2 recombinant, with the majority of the genome including the S gene belonging to BA.2.XE shows slightly higher transmission rate. XE also shows a higher growth rate above that of BA.2; however, this finding requires further confirmation,” the INSACOG said.

    At the prime minister’s meeting with chief ministers, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said one case of XK/XM was found in Maharashtra, one case of XJ was detected in Rajasthan and a case each of the XJ and XE recombinant versions of Omicron has been found in the country.

  • Omicron in community transmission stage in India, dominant in multiple metros: INSACOG

    Omicron variant of COVID-19 has become dominant in multiple metros where new cases have been rising exponentially, the INSACOG said.

  • Omicron’s explosive spread potential makes threat level very high globally: INSACOG

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Omicron’s explosive spread potential makes the threat level very high globally, especially in regions with low population immunity, INSACOG has said and noted higher population immunity due to infections and vaccination was behind the apparent reduction in severity compared to Delta and other variants.

    In its weekly bulletin of December 27, released on Monday, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) said global outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 are increasingly shifting from Delta to Omicron.

    “Omicron has a clear growth advantage over Delta with the highest level of immune escape so far as well as high intrinsic transmissibility, leading to larger outbreaks than seen with Delta. Estimates of the severity of illness associated with Omicron are lower than seen in previous outbreaks,” it said citing global data.

    The difference in severity between Omicron and Delta measured over the same time period is smaller, suggesting that the majority of the apparent reduction in severity, compared to previous outbreaks, is because of higher population immunity from previous infections and vaccination, the INSACOG said.

    It noted that based on all available data, older non-immune subjects are still likely to be at risk for severe disease, comparable to previous variants.

    In view of Omicron’s explosive spread potential, the threat level is still very high, especially in regions with low population immunity, the INSACOG said.

    “Adjusted estimates of the hazard ratio for hospital attendance for Omicron vs Delta cases in the UK suggest that risk for unvaccinated is only about 25 per cent lower for the same period.

    “Importantly, in the UK, individuals who have received at least two doses of either AstraZeneca/Covishield or mRNA vaccines remained substantially protected against hospitalisation, even if protection against infection was largely lost against the Omicron variant,” it said.

    As many as 4,033 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported so far across 27 states and Union territories.

  • INTERVIEW | Omicron is the Usain Bolt among SARS-CoV-2 variants: Head of genome sequencing committee

    Express News Service

    BENGALURU: With the emergence of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19, eminent virologist and nodal officer the INSACOG lab at NIMHANS, Dr V Ravi, who also heads the genome sequencing committee, says that the answer to whether the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) is doing its job, is a resounding ‘Yes’. It is important that sequencing is done to pick up the variant quickly and the labs are doing just that, he stressed.

    What does the finding of the Omicron variant mean to India?

    It means three things — a) Reminder that Covid is still around and everybody has to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour; b) It’s nature’s way of reminding you to take two doses of vaccine; c) Nobody is safe until everybody is safe. We live in a global village. Vaccine access to countries that do not have access should definitely be given.

    What makes Omicron different from Delta?

    It is different from all other variants for the simple reason that it carries mutations from Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta in one bag. In fact, here’s a candidate for the first time in the last nine month’s that’s challenging the Delta variant. Omicron is like Usain Bolt amongst all the SARS-COV2 variants which can spread faster than the others, primarily because it took advantage of all the other variants.

    How concerned should we be about this variant’s mutations?

    Credible data within Africa showed that from early November, cases from single digit percentage jumped 60-80% in all genomes. Delta is considered seven times more infectious than its predecessor but even that did not rise in such fashion. The virus will be isolated in the next one week.

    Once we have it, then cell culture experiments comparing infectivity of variants will be done and then we will know how much more infectious this is.

    Secondly, the other way of establishing infectivity is by determining the R-naught value (how many people get infected from one person).

    Also, this variant has 50 to 52 mutations, of which about 28-32 are in the spike protein and 10 to 12 are in the region where the virus binds to the human cell. Omicron is the best key that we have today.

    What will be the severity of illness?

    An honest answer is nobody knows, as there are no published scientific reports yet. Overall, it all looks like the illness spectrum is like Covid caused by any other variant.

    A majority are mildly symptomatic, a few have mild to moderate symptoms. No deaths have been reported so far among those with severe symptoms.

    Fingers are being pointed at INSACOG for not sampling enough?

    In this pandemic, whenever there is an outbreak, the first to be blamed is the virus and the next is the virologist. Alpha was declared as a variant of concern in late November or early December.

    The Centre set up INSACOG on December 25, the NIMHANS lab in Bengaluru identified the Alpha variant for the first time on December 26. INSACOG identified the Delta variant for the world. Two days after Omicron was declared as a VoC, Karnataka picked it up.

    Wasn’t that fast enough? Has it missed a variant? Why should every sample be sequenced?  Wearing masks and taking vaccines is the answer.

    The Bengaluru doctor had no travel history. Is Omicron already in the community?

    I can only tell you that it is very reminiscent of the first wave — the Nanjangud case with no travel history. There was a missing link.

    Here too, there is a missing link. We will have situations like this. If this missing link had entered India, or Bengaluru or Karnataka sometime late October or early November, we should have seen hundreds of clusters.

    A single swallow doesn’t herald the summer. If, in multiple cities or districts you see it with similar background, then I would say it’s in the community.

  • Kappa mutations behind Covid outbreaks in early 2021, especially in Maharashtra: INSACOG

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Indian sequencing data for mutations associated with greater infectivity shows that a mutation was also present in the Kappa lineage of COVID-19 that led to outbreaks in early 2021, especially in Maharashtra, before being displaced by Delta, the INSACOG said.

    In its weekly bulletin dated November 15, when concerns about new coronavirus variant Omicron had not surfaced, that was uploaded on its website on Tuesday, the Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia said Delta (B.1.617.2 and AY.x) continues to be the main variant of concern (VOC) in India and no new variant of interest or VOC has been noted.

    “Analysis of Indian sequencing data for N mutations associated with greater infectivity shows that the N:R203M mutation was also present in the Kappa lineage (B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.3) that led to outbreaks in early 2021, especially in Maharashtra, before being displaced by Delta,” the bulletin said.

    “These mutations are not likely to have importance for cross-immunity. Both Covishield and Covaxin have already shown effectiveness against Delta,” it added.

    The Kappa variant, which was detected in India in December last year, has been classified as a ‘Variant Under Monitoring’ (VUM) by the World Health Organisation.

    The variant was detected among COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala.

    The INSACOG reports genomic surveillance of SARS CoV-2 across the country through sequencing of samples from sentinel sites and also detailed state-wise district analysis for some states.

    A total of 95,929 samples have been analysed and 1,18,044 samples have been sequenced so far by the INSACOG.

  • COVID-19 AY.4.2 variant frequency too low to be of concern, says INSACOG

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The frequency of the new AY.4.2 variant of COVID-19 is less than 0.1 percent of all VOI/VOC and is too low to be of concern at this time, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) said.

    Its weekly bulletin said the vaccine effectiveness does not seem to be different for AY.4.2 when compared to other Delta variants.

    The INSACOG said that AY.4.2 variant of COVID-19 is less than 0.1 percent of all of all variants of concern and variant of interest (VOC/VOI) and is too low to be of concern at this time.

    “There is currently no biological basis for increased transmissibility of AY.4.2, as judged epidemiologically, and assays are in progress,” it said.

    The INSACOG noted that Delta (B.1.617.2 and AY.x) continues to be the main variant of concern (VOC) in India and no new variant of interest (VOI) or VOC are noted in India.

    Delta, which was first found in India in October last year, led to the devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, which was at its peak in April and May.

    INSACOG, a consortium of 28 national laboratories, was set up in December 2020 to monitor the genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 causing virus.

    The pan-India network functions under the Union health ministry.

  • No evidence of any new variant of coronavirus in country: INSACOG

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: There is no evidence of a new variant of SARS-CoV2 and presently there is no additional or public health concern regarding the Delta sub-lineages, the INSACOG, a genome sequencing consortium, has said.

    In its latest bulletin dated September 20, the INSACOG said Delta continues to be the main variant of concern in India.

    “The second wave, driven by the Delta (variant), is continuing at low levels in some Indian states and there is no evidence of a new variant,” it said.

    Hospitals were overwhelmed and health infrastructure was severely stressed during the second wave of coronavirus in the country between March to May.

    There is a small but steady increase in AY.1 since June 2021, which is being monitored, the INSACOG noted.

    AY.4 is the most frequently seen Delta sub-lineage in recent sequences from India, as well as globally, it said.

    Clinical characteristics of the AY.4 variant infections were very similar to B.1.617.2 infections in initial studies from Maharashtra.

    “There is presently no additional clinical or public health concern regarding these sub-lineages. No new VOI or VOC are noted in India,”the INSACOG said.

    Last week, the INSACOG said India has so far not seen Mu and C.1.2, the two new variants of SARS’CoV2, and the Delta variant and its sub-lineages continue to be the main variants in the country.

  • Two coronavirus variants of interest not found in India yet

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  While there have been no cases of new Covid-19 variants — Mu, South African C.1.2 — in India so far, the national genomic surveillance consortium on Friday called for stronger implementation of existing recommendations on sequencing of positive samples from international travellers.

    The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) weekly bulletin shows that Delta and Delta sub-lineages continue to be the main VOC (variants of concern) in India and AY.4 is the most frequently seen sub-lineage in recent sequences from India, as well as globally. Of the 63,774 samples of VOC and Variants of Interest (VOI) sequenced by INSACOG, 42,833 were Delta.

    The WHO added B.1.621 (including B.1.621.1) to the list of VOI on August 30 and gave it the designation “Mu”. It has mutations that indicate potential immune escape properties. There appears to be a reduction in neutralization capacity of convalescent and vaccine sera, similar to what was seen for the Beta variant, but this needs to be confirmed.

    WHO has also added C.1.2 as a new VOI. C.1.2 is a sub-lineage of the C.1 variant seen in South Africa, which did not spread globally. The C.1.2 variant seems to have undergone many mutations in a short time, and contains mutations of all three types that have previously been found to be important for transmissibility and immune escape.

    The INSACOG data portal has started including sub-lineage labels up to AY.12 to enable better tracking. The latest update takes the classification to AY.25, with the following notification — “as previously outlined for AY.4-AY.12, each of the new AY.13-AY.25 lineages shows significant geographical clustering and these lineages have been designated to help researchers track the virus on a finer scale. However, their designation does not imply any functional biological difference from B.1.617.2 and, like B.1.617.2, they correspond to the WHO-defined Delta variant.”

  • No cases of new Covid variants Mu, C.1.2 reported in India so far: Genomic consortium

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: While there have been no cases of new Covid-19 variants Mu, South African C.1.2 in India so far but the national genomic surveillance consortium Friday called for “more strongly implementing” existing recommendations on sequencing of positive samples from international travelers.

    The weekly bulletin from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) shows that Delta and Delta sub-lineages continue to be the main VOC (variants of concern) in India and AY.4 is the most frequently seen sub-lineage in recent sequences from India, as well as globally. Of the 63,774 samples of Variants of Concern and Variants of Interest sequenced by the INSACOG, 42,833 were Delta.

    The WHO added B.1.621 (including B.1.621.1) to the list of VOI (variants of interest) on August 30 and gave it the designation “Mu”. It has mutations that indicate potential immune escape properties. There appears to be a reduction in neutralization capacity of convalescent and vaccine sera, similar to that seen for the Beta variant, but this needs to be confirmed by further studies.

    WHO has also added C.1.2 as a new VOI. It is a sub-lineage of the C.1 variant described in South Africa but did not spread globally. The C.1.2 variant seems to have undergone many mutations in a short time, and contains mutations of all the three types that have previously been found to be important for transmissibility and immune escape

    The INSACOG data portal has now started including sub-lineage labels up to AY.12 to enable better tracking. The latest update from the PANGO network now takes the classification to AY.25, with the following notification – “as previously outlined for AY.4-AY.12, each of the new AY.13-AY.25 lineages show significant geographical clustering and these lineages have been designated to help researchers track the virus on a finer scale.

    However, their designation does not imply any functional biological difference from B.1.617.2 and, like B.1.617.2, they correspond to the WHO-defined Delta variant.”

    The INSACOG reports genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 across the country through sequencing of samples from Sentinel sites and also detailed State wise district analysis for some states under State MoUs.

  • Number of COVID-19 breakthrough infections in India within expected numbers: INSACOG

    It said that AY.12 that was first noted in Israel and currently driving infection in the country, which has inoculated 60 percent of its population, is not yet seen in India.