XBB.1.16 accounting for 38.2% of COVID-19 infection in India: INSACOG bulletin

The newly-emerged recombinant coronavirus variant XBB.1.16, which has been observed in different parts of the country, continues to be the most commonly circulated Omicron sub-lineage and accounts for 38.2 per cent of the infection till date.

This information has been published in the latest INSACOG bulletin.

The March 27 bulletin released on Thursday (April 6) said that among the samples collected till the third week of March 2023, XBB continued to be the most commonly circulating Omicron sub-lineages.

Noting that Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the dominant variants in India, the bulletin said an increase in infection rate, especially in parts of west, south and north India, has been observed.

Also read: 610 cases of COVID’s new variant XBB1.16 found in India: INSACOG data

Different parts of India saw a newly-emerged recombinant variant XBB.1.16, which has accounted for 38.2 per cent of the infection till date, the bulletin said. The bulletin further said a few BA.2.10 and BA.2.75 sub-lineage were detected in some parts of the country, whereas XBB was the most prevalent sub-lineage of the Omicron variant.

The INSACOG said globally, nearly 3.7 million new cases and 26,000 deaths have been reported in the last 28 days. During the ninth week of the year 2023, there has been a continued increasing trend in the proportions of recombinant lineages globally, it said.

India has logged 5,335 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest in 195 days, while the active cases have increased to 25,587, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Thursday.