Category: Coronavirus

The number of total active Covid-19 patients reached 311, with 87 persons testing positive for the infection in the last 24 hours, the Health and Family Welfare department said on Monday.

Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Department has said in an official statement that the number of active Covid-19 cases crossed the 300-mark in the state.

As the most of the schools reopened on Monday after summer vacations, the authorities are on high alert.

The number of total active Covid-19 patients reached 311, with 87 persons testing positive for the infection in the last 24 hours, the Health and Family Welfare department said on Monday.

As many as 504 persons were tested across the state.

A total of 29 persons were discharged during the same period.

The Covid-positivity rate stood at 17.2 per cent and case fatality rate is zero per cent.

Among the total 311 patients, 297 are kept in home quarantine and 14 admitted to hospitals, three are in Intensive Care Units of the government and private hospitals.

Amid the fear of Covid-19, the authorities are worried over the increasing number of the Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) and influenza cases.

According to sources in the Health department, the total number of SARI and influenza cases have increased to 4,536 cases in the state since January this year.

In the last week, 154 SARI cases have been reported in the state.

The officials said that they are seeing a trend of steep rise in number of such cases.

The government is arranging for Covid-19 tests for the patients affected with SARI and influenza.

The doctors have warned people not to neglect the symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue, nose blockage, running nose, headache, breathing issues, and throat pain.

The capital Bengaluru continues to be hotspot for Covid-19 as most active cases are reported from here.

Meanwhile, State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Gruha Arogya Yojana (Home Health Scheme) is being expanded across the state, with 14 non-communicable diseases included for screening under the programme.

The Minister added that non-communicable diseases pose a significant threat to people’s lives.

While the private healthcare sector prioritises treatment, it is crucial to prevent non-communicable diseases proactively.

He emphasised that the government should undertake this task, as others may not show interest.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/active-covid-19-cases-cross-300-mark-in-karnataka-authorities-on-alert-8572757

Kerala accounted for the highest number cases with 1,336 active infections, while Maharashtra came second with 467 cases. Four deaths have been reported so far.

The total number of active Covid-19 cases in India has breached the 3,000-mark, along with four deaths reported in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to the latest data, India now has a total of 3,395 active cases. Kerala has accounted for the highest number of cases with 1,336 infections, while 467 cases have been reported in Maharashtra. The national capital has also reported 375 fresh infections, while Gujarat has 265 active cases.

West Bengal has recorded 205 cases, Tamil Nadu 185 and Uttar Pradesh has recorded 117 active cases so far. A total of 1,435 patients have been discharged so far.

In a statement, officials stressed that most cases are mild and reiterated that there is no need for public panic. The department assured citizens that adequate testing and treatment infrastructure is in place across the state.

Here’s The Latest On Covid-19 Cases

• Kerala recorded 189 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking its overall tally of active infections to 1,336. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier said there was no cause for concern.
• The national capital reported its first Covid-19 fatality – a 60-year-old woman who had tested positive for the virus – on Saturday. “The woman was suffering from acute intestinal obstruction post-laparotomy. The COVID-19 finding was incidental,” an official told news agency PTI.
• Karnataka’s Department of Health and Family Welfare Services on Saturday requested people to stay calm, remain vigilant, and work with health authorities to prevent further spread and ensure public safety.
• Two more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Odisha, taking the total number of cases in the state to seven, according to Health Secretary Aswathy S. She said the condition of all patients is stable and most cases are mild.
• Seven new infections have been reported in Bihar’s Patna in the last 24 hours, including a medical intern at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH). All the patients have exhibited mild symptoms.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/covid-19-cases-india-latest-updates-active-infections-deaths-kerala-maharashtra-delhi-karnataka-ws-l-9362116.html

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reported that there are 727 active Covid cases in the state. He added that the Omicron JN variant LF7, which has been reported in South-East Asian countries, has been found in the state. Vijayan urged vigilance against infectious diseases during the rainy season, particularly leptospirosis, advising precautions for those in relief operations.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said a “small number” of Covid cases have been reported from the state, even as the southern state, with over 700 active cases, remained the worst-hit in the country. Kerala is followed by Maharashtra, which has 425 active patients.
CM Vijayan, at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, said that the total number of active Covid in the state was 727. Majority of the cases were reported from Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. He added that the state Health infrastructure was equipped to handle the situation.
He added that it was the Omicron JN variant LF7, which has been reported in South-East Asian countries, that has been found in Kerala.

In the wake of the increase in Covid cases, the state health minister had called a state-level meeting of rapid response teams and directed taking precautions and making necessary arrangements, he said.

“Those with symptoms such as cold, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath must wear masks. It is also advisable for the elderly, pregnant women, and those with serious illnesses to wear masks in public places and while traveling. Masks have been made mandatory in hospitals. Health workers must wear masks,” Vijayan said.
He said that the Health Department was closely monitoring the increase in Covid cases in the state.
The CM further said that since it was the rainy season, constant vigilance against infectious diseases was necessary.
He advised extreme caution against leptospirosis infection as it can be severe.
He said that those involved in relief operations or dealing with soil and sewage must take doxycycline as per the instructions of health workers to prevent leptospirosis infection.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/kerala-covid-cases-active-coronavirus-cases-in-kerala-cross-700-mark-cm-vijayan-says-just-a-small-number-article-151756116

Covid-19: Currently, 52 patients are undergoing treatment for mild symptoms, while 16 are being treated at hospitals, said the department.

Maharashtra has reported two COVID-19-related deaths since January this year, the state health department said on Tuesday.

In a release, the department said both fatalities were reported from Mumbai and involved patients with comorbidities (simultaneous presence of two or more medical conditions in a person).

One of the deceased had nephrotic syndrome with hypocalcemia seizure, while the other was a cancer patient, it said.

The release said a total of 6,066 swab samples have been examined for coronavirus since January, of which 106 tested positive for the infectious disease. Of these, 101 were from Mumbai and the remaining from Pune, Thane, and Kolhapur.

Currently, 52 patients are undergoing treatment for mild symptoms, while 16 are being treated at hospitals, said the department.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maharashtra-reports-52-covid-cases-2-deaths-since-january-health-office-8466416

No need to panic, stay at home if you have any respiratory infection so that you do not transmit it to others

Asian countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong have noted a surge in Covid-19 cases over the last few weeks. Health authorities in these countries have said that the increase may be because of waning population level immunity to the infection and fewer elderly getting their booster shots.

“There is no indication that the variants circulating locally are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to previously circulating variants,” said Singapore’s ministry of health.

What do the numbers say?

Data from Singapore shows that the estimated number of Covid-19 cases in the week ending on May 3 went up to 14,200 from 11,100 a week before. The average daily hospitalisation due to Covid-19 during this period also increased from 102 to 133, but daily admissions to the ICU declined slightly from 3 to 2.

The health authority added that LF.7 and NB.1.8 — both descendants of JN.1 variant that is used in new Covid-19 vaccines — were circulating in the country. These newer vaccines are unavailable in India.

Hong Kong has seen an increase in Sars-CoV-2 viral load in sewage samples. It has also noted an increase in respiratory samples testing positive for Covid-19, increasing to 13.66 per cent in the week ending on May 10 as compared to 6.21 per cent four weeks ago. It has recorded 81 severe cases, with 30 deaths, almost all of which were in elderly people with underlying health conditions.

Has Covid-19 become a seasonal infection?

It is likely. Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) says, “According to the surveillance data after the resumption of normalcy, there were two relatively active periods of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, which lasted for about 15 weeks from April to July 2023 and for about seven weeks from February to March last year. COVID-19 became more active in mid-April of this year (i.e. about four weeks ago).”

Singapore’s ministry of health says, “As with other endemic respiratory diseases, periodic COVID-19 waves are expected throughout the year.”

What about India?

While not many are undergoing Covid-19 tests in India anymore, data collected from surveillance sites by ICMR laboratories show that there has been an increase in Covid-19 infections over the last few weeks — the number of Sars-Cov-2 positive samples increased to 41 during the week ending on May 11 as compared to 28 the week before, and 12 the week before that. However, the total number of respiratory infections has been on the decline since a surge in September last year.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness/covid-19-surge-hong-kong-singapore-10012119/

A 45-year-old woman in Kolkata has been diagnosed with human coronavirus HKU1 on Monday. The woman has been suffering from persistent fever, cough, and cold for the past 15 days. She is presently being treated at a private hospital in South Kolkata and her condition is stable for now.

According to hospital authorities, it is an isolated case and has advised all to take necessary precautions to prevent its spread.

What is human coronavirus HKU1?

Common human coronaviruses, including HKU1, usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses including the common cold. There are different types of human coronaviruses like 229E, NL63, and OC34.

What are the symptoms of HKU1?

The symptoms of HKU1 include:

Runny nose

Sore throat

Headache

Fever

Cough

In severe cases, it could also cause pneumonia or bronchitis as well.

Who is at risk?

People with cardiopulmonary disease, weakened immunity, infants and elderly with comorbidities are at risk.

How to prevent it?

The steps adopted during the Covid-19 would come in handy in tackling HKU1 as well.

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

2. avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

3. avoid close contact with people who are sick

4. stay home while you are sick

5. avoid close contact with others

6. cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing

7. clean and disinfect objects and surfaces

Source : https://www.theweek.in/news/health/2025/03/17/human-coronavirus-hku1-reported-in-kolkata-all-you-need-to-know.html

A NEWLY discovered bat coronavirus found in China has raised pandemic fears, experts warn.

Named HKU5-CoV-2, the virus was identified by scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been at the centre of the theory that Covid-19 leaked from a lab.

Research published in Cell journal revealed the bug can enter cells using human ACE2 – a receptor that Covid-19 also attaches to before replicating and causing illness.

This means HKU5-CoV-2 can jump straight from bats to humans without another animal in between.

This suggests a higher potential for zoonotic spillover – when a disease spreads from animal to human.

If there is no ‘intermediate ‘middle animal’, it becomes harder to predict and prevent spillover events through interactions such as wildlife trading or hunting.

Despite both being coronaviruses, they come from separate branches of the family tree.

HKU5-CoV-2 belongs to the merbecovirus lineage, making it a cousin of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), also called camel flu.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), camel flu is less infectious than Covid, but it is more deadly, killing a third of known patients.

“There is the potential for this new virus to spillover to human, like previous coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2,” said Dr Gary R McLean, a research fellow at the Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study.

“Interestingly, this newly discovered virus lineage (HKU5-CoV-2), despite evolving in bats, can effectively use human entry receptor protein ACE2 for infection of human cells and tissues.”

Prof Gary added that, so far, there is no “evidence” that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect people – the paper is based on tests in a laboratory, showing the bugs “potential”.

“Hopefully the Chinese authorities now have good surveillance systems in place and the laboratories work to rigid safety standards that minimise the risk of spillover occurring,” he said.

The Chinese researchers – led by “batwoman” Shi Zheng-Li – also said that HKU5-CoV-2 does not appear to be as good at entering the ACE2 receptor as Covid-19 is.

Prof Simon Clarke, an expert in cellular microbiology, from the University of Reading, said we shouldn’t get “too hung up” on how the virus spreads.

“The finding of another bat coronavirus that gains entry human and animal cells by unlocking them in the same way as Covid-19 is naturally of concern and will worry people, but it shouldn’t be all that surprising,” he said.

“This way of accessing cells is probably far more common than we realise, and the more scientists look for these things, the more examples they’re likely to find.

“This is just one part of the way the virus interacts with our bodies; things are much more complicated.”

What will trigger the next pandemic?

Although the new research contains some pandemic-associated trigger works, Prof Paul Hunter, an expert in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said we shouldn’t worry too much – at least not yet.

“We do need to remain vigilant about all coronaviruses,” he said.

“At some point a coronavirus will trigger another pandemic, maybe not in the next few decades.

“When that does happen will it be HKU5-CoV-2? Again probably not but it may be.”

The WHO has previously listed MERS and Covid as two of several diseases – alongside the mysterious disease X – that could spark a pandemic, but for which there is no specific treatment or vaccine.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/health/13630190/coronavirus-pandemic-fears-bat-bug-new-virus/

Scientists in China have reported that they have identified a new coronavirus—HKU5-CoV-2—in bats, capable of infecting human cells through a mechanism similar to SARS-CoV-2 that triggered the Covid-19 pandemic five years ago.

The discovery, reported in the journal Cell last week, has since triggered worries across the world.

The latest findings have been reported by a team of virologists at the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, led by Shi Zhengli, who came into prominence as “batwoman” during the pandemic for her work with bat coronaviruses and also faced allegations for her facility’s central role in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2.

HKU5-CoV-2, like SARS-CoV-2, belongs to a family beta coronavirus, one of the four broad types of coronaviruses, named so for crown-like protrusion on their surfaces, and can cause respiratory infection in animals and humans.

The newly-identified virus is closely linked with HKU1, first detected in a 71-year-old man in 2004 in Hong Kong who was hospitalised with acute respiratory distress and severe pneumonia, and is one of the seven types of coronaviruses known for infecting humans.

The scientists at the Wuhan Institute have now warned that just like SARS-CoV-2, the bat virus HKU5-CoV-2 contains a feature known as the furin cleavage site that helps it enter human cells via the ACE2 receptor—a protein on the surface of many cells.

As part of the scientific project, the researcher collected the HKU5-CoV-2 strain from a small subset of hundreds of Pipistrellus bats from various Chinese provinces and analysed them for their affinity to human cells.

Their experiment revealed that the virus belongs to a distinct lineage of coronaviruses that includes the one causing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and is distantly related to SARS-CoV-2.

What really triggered the concern was the finding that the HKU5-CoV-2 strain can enter human cells by binding to the ACE2 receptor, mirroring the mechanism used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells, replicate, and transmit.

Structural and functional analyses indicate that HKU5-CoV-2 has a better adaptation to human ACE2 than lineage 1 HKU5-CoV. Authentic HKU5-CoV-2 infected human ACE2, expressing cell lines and human respiratory and enteric organoids, researchers noted.

“This study reveals a distinct lineage of HKU5-CoVs in bats that efficiently use human ACE2 and underscores their potential zoonotic risk,” they have cautioned.

Scientists in India said that while the latest discovery should not raise an alarm immediately, there may be a need to maintain surveillance for highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses.

“HKU5-CoV2 is a specific strain of HKU5 needing surveillance as of now with no human-to-human transmission but can bind to ACE 2 receptors,” said a scientist with the epidemiology division at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

‘Face to the faceless threat’

Senior immunologist Dr Dipyaman Ganguly, who is associated with Ashoka University, told ThePrint that the major concern over HKU5-CoV2 comes from the fact that the discovery has demonstrated potential for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of this virus to engage receptors on human cells and thus infect them.

Findings from the lab experiments suggest that HKU5-CoV-2 may also infect a broad variety of mammals, underscoring its potential for cross-species transmission.

While the results indicate that the pathogen has the potential for animal-to-human transmission, it has also been noted that HKU5-CoV-2 has a lower binding affinity to human ACE2 than SARS-CoV-2, and its ability to infect humans on a large scale remains uncertain.

More research is needed to determine if it poses a serious health threat, the scientists have suggested.

“The results confirm existing knowledge that there are zoonotic viruses out there capable of human jump. Also, it gives a face to otherwise faceless threats,” said biologist Dr Anurag Agarwal, who is also dean of the Trivedi School of Biosciences with Ashoka University.

Dr Agarwal, however, reassured that as of now, there is no cause for any new concern beyond a general readiness.

Dr Ganguly pointed out that due to the Covid pandemic, a majority of the human population have neutralising antibodies that can interfere with ACE2 binding by SARS-CoV-2 RBD.

Source : https://theprint.in/health/wuhan-virologists-identify-new-coronavirus-in-bats-it-has-a-disturbing-similarity-to-covid-19/2509289/

The world is holding its breath as unconfirmed reports suggest a mystery disease is ravaging China leading to overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums – but the nation is trying to downplay fears.

China has long been identified as the source of the Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus which went on to spark a global pandemic after the first human patients were discovered in the city of Wuhan in November 2019.

Around the world over seven million people died from Covid and in the UK the latest estimates are 208,000 people lost their lives to the disease.

Now unconfirmed local media reports from China are suggesting a new bug, thought to be connected to the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), is now causing severe and even deadly results.

Usually HMPV is similar to a mild cold, but lines of sick children and adults are now overwhelming the country’s healthcare system and deaths have been reported.

“Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the northern hemisphere,” said Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson.

“The diseases appear to be less severe and spread on a smaller scale compared to the previous year.

“I can assure you the Chinese government cares about the heal of Chinese citizens and foreigners in China.

“It is safe to travel in China.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests flu could be behind the soaring admissions and cases.

But according to Aboluowang News, a US-based news provider covering China, a farmer from Hunan Province said people were dying from the outbreak.

Mr Peng told the news site: “A lot of people have caught colds, and most of them have [illness],’ he said in quotes translated to English. About seven or eight people died this week in this area. Some were in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 40s.”

Another person the news site said was a funeral director called Ms Wang, said: “There are long lines for cremation now, today, three VIP furnaces were opened.

“They were all burning and emitting a lot of smoke. It was terrible. If you don’t know about the crematorium, you would think it is selling New Year goods, just like holding a trade fair during the Chinese New Year.”

And unverified images and videos shared on X appear to show large numbers of patients waiting for treatment inside hospitals in China.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last month urged China to share more data five years after the outbreak of Covid-19.

Source : https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/159406/china-mystery-virus-safe-travel

The Union Health Ministry on Saturday convened a Joint Monitoring Group Meeting in view of rising cases of respiratory illnesses in China in the past few weeks. In an official release, the Ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation through all available options in China and has also asked the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide regular updates.
It said the situation in China is not “unusual in view of the ongoing flu season”. The reports also suggest that the cause of the present surge is Influenza virus, RSV and HMPV – the usual pathogens that are expected during the season, the release added.
“The government is keeping a close watch over the situation through all available channels and WHO has also been requested to share timely updates regarding the situation in China,” it said.

“These viruses are already in circulation globally including India,” the release further added.

The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and experts from WHO, the Disaster Management (DM) Cell, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) Division, and hospitals, including AIIMS, Delhi participated in the meeting.

The world is holding its breath as unconfirmed reports suggest a mystery disease is ravaging China leading to overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums – but the nation is trying to downplay fears.

China has long been identified as the source of the Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus which went on to spark a global pandemic after the first human patients were discovered in the city of Wuhan in November 2019.

Around the world over seven million people died from Covid and in the UK the latest estimates are 208,000 people lost their lives to the disease.

Now unconfirmed local media reports from China are suggesting a new bug, thought to be connected to the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), is now causing severe and even deadly results.

Usually HMPV is similar to a mild cold, but lines of sick children and adults are now overwhelming the country’s healthcare system and deaths have been reported.

“Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the northern hemisphere,” said Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson.

“The diseases appear to be less severe and spread on a smaller scale compared to the previous year.

“I can assure you the Chinese government cares about the heal of Chinese citizens and foreigners in China.

“It is safe to travel in China.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests flu could be behind the soaring admissions and cases.

But according to Aboluowang News, a US-based news provider covering China, a farmer from Hunan Province said people were dying from the outbreak.

Mr Peng told the news site: “A lot of people have caught colds, and most of them have [illness],’ he said in quotes translated to English. About seven or eight people died this week in this area. Some were in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 40s.”

Another person the news site said was a funeral director called Ms Wang, said: “There are long lines for cremation now, today, three VIP furnaces were opened.

“They were all burning and emitting a lot of smoke. It was terrible. If you don’t know about the crematorium, you would think it is selling New Year goods, just like holding a trade fair during the Chinese New Year.”

And unverified images and videos shared on X appear to show large numbers of patients waiting for treatment inside hospitals in China.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last month urged China to share more data five years after the outbreak of Covid-19.

Source : https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/159406/china-mystery-virus-safe-travel

Videos that have emerged on social media appear to show hospitals in China overwhelmed by the outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Social media posts suggest that multiple virus outbreaks in China have left hospitals and cemeteries overcrowded. Along with HMPV, these include influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19.

The looming threat of another pandemic, five years after Covid-19 brought life to a standstill, has created panic online. However, it is important to note that no credible report has confirmed these posts.

Chinese health authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have not confirmed the existence of a new pandemic or issued any warnings for people to take caution. Contrary to speculation, the WHO has not declared an emergency.

Viral videos:

One undated video appears to show the waiting room of a hospital full of patients. Many people were seen wearing masks in the video, others were seen coughing. The video was shared on X with a caption suggesting that it was filmed in China.

Another post that is going viral on X with 12 million views shows a number of elderly people in a hospital corridor. “Hospitals in China are overwhelmed as outbreaks of “influenza A” and “human metapneumovirus” resemble the COVID-19 surge from three years ago,” the post reads.

What is human metapneumovirus?

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a virus that usually causes symptoms similar to a cold. Young children, elderly people and those who are immunocompromised are at a higher risk.

This respiratory virus can cause symptoms similar to those of the common cold – such as cough, fever, and nasal congestion – as well as more severe respiratory issues like pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/new-epidemic-in-china-alarming-videos-show-hospitals-overwhelmed-due-to-hmpv-outbreak-101735871030317.html