Health experts urge caution as mild Covid strain resurfaces

Bhubaneswar: Following the death of two Covid patients with comorbidities in a Mumbai hospital and a spurt of cases in some parts of the country, health experts have urged people take preventive measures like wearing mask and taking care of personal hygiene to minimise infection risk.

"We hear that some Covid positive cases are being reported in some states. However, what is emerging now is that it is the same old variant of the virus that is reappearing, manifesting in a milder form," said Nilakantha Mishra, director of public health.

According to the health directorate, sub-variants LF-7 and NB 1.5 of the JN-1 strain are responsible for current infections. The JN-1 variant was first detected in Dec 2023. Health experts had allayed fear then, citing that it was of moderate risk.

"The symptom caused by JN-1 is mild. Thus, the possibility of increasing load over the healthcare system is almost nil. People will have common cold, cough and mild fever, but that won't translate into a disease. Wearing mask should be maintained to check the spread of infection," said Jayant Panda, senior professor of medicine at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.