There has been some relief news from Assam regarding COVID-19 this year. So far, 2,200 samples have been tested here and all have tested negative. However, last year, about 90 positive cases were found at the ICMR Regional Medical Research Center (ICMR-RMRC) in Lahowal. Senior Deputy Director Dr. B Borakkoti said that the COVID-19 virus is still mutating and more than 140 changes have been recorded in it since 2019. But the good thing is that there has been less than one percent change in the total structure of the virus.
Mild effect on symptoms due to change in virus
According to Dr. B Borakkoti, these changes have caused a slight change in the nature of the virus such as its ability to spread, symptoms, severity or strength of infection. However, the risk of serious illness is now less because immunity has been formed in people several times in the last five years. This immunity is formed either through symptomatic infection or asymptomatic infection. He said that even though the cases of Kovid-19 are increasing again in some parts of the world, there is no reason to panic at the moment. The situation in Assam is under control and ICMR-RMRC is constantly monitoring the situation here.
Covid-19 cases are increasing again around the world
Recently, an increase in the cases of Kovid-19 has been reported in Singapore, Hong Kong and many parts of South-East Asia. Currently, 257 active cases have been registered in India as well. Dr. Borakkoti clearly said that Kovid-19 never went away completely. In March 2025, there were about 46,000 cases worldwide, which decreased to 23,000 in April, but in May 2025, it has started increasing again. In Assam, 2,100 samples were tested last year, out of which 4.2 percent i.e. about 90 cases were found positive, especially in the Dibrugarh area. No positive case has been found in Assam since September 2024 this year. So far, more than 2,200 samples have been tested and all have been negative.
New variant NB.1.8.1 but no need to panic
At present, the increase in the cases of Kovid-19 around the world is due to the new subvariant NB.1.8.1 of Omicron. This variant is made up of a combination of old variants JN.1 and XDE and its ability to stick to human cells is slightly higher, due to which it can spread more rapidly. But the matter of relief is that this variant is not able to defeat the immunity formed due to earlier infections. That is, this new variant is not that big a threat for those who have been infected earlier. Dr. Borakkoti said that Kovid-19 will now be constantly present in the background and there will be a slight increase in cases in between. The vulnerable need to be cautious but there is no reason for the common people to panic.
