Recent press reports stated that the COVID-19 viruss XBB.1.5 sub-variant, which was responsible for 90% of all new cases in the US, is the predominant sub-variant identified in Gujarats genome sequencing with maximum cases being reported in Kutch, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat districts.

The genomes of the last 50 confirmed COVID cases were sequenced by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), which found that 37 or 74% of these samples belonged to the XBB.1 branch.  They were divided into 20 XBB.1.5, 14 XBB.1, and 3 XBB.1.9. 

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) reported that this sub-variant was present in 11 states in India and that the number of cases was increasing. In Gujarat, XBB.2 accounted for 35% of the cases, compared to XBB.5s 13% and XBB.1s 10%. The increase in cases has been observed from the last week of February. After a protracted period, the state also has a COVID patient on a ventilator.

The increase in COVID cases in Gujarat coincided with the rise of the XBB variant, an Omicron sub-variant recombinant of the BA.10 and BA.75 sub-variants Gujarat previously experienced. City-based experts stated that the severity of this variant cannot yet be predicted.

Dr. Urvesh Shah, professor and head of the microbiology division at GCS Medical College, said the available evidence does not indicate that XBB infections have significantly different disease severity from other circulating Omicron sub-lineages. Still, there is a higher risk of re-infection.

Experts also noted that although the adult population in the state had approximately 100% coverage for both doses of the COVID vaccination, neutralizing antibodies circulate in the blood for just four to six months. Therefore, previously infected people could again be infected, albeit weakly. Moreover, city hospitals stated that no hospitalizations due to COVID were reported.

(Source:  https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/xbb-1-5-strain-now-dominant-in-gujarat/98471328)