Omicron Subvariant BF.7 in India
Three cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7, a strain linked to a surge of COVID-19 cases in China, have been detected in India. The first case was identified in October in the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, with two additional cases reported in Gujarat and one in Odisha. Experts have emphasized the need for continued surveillance to track existing and emerging variants, as the BF.7 strain is highly transmissible, has a shorter incubation period, and has a higher capacity to cause reinfection or infect those who have been vaccinated. The strain has also been detected in several other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and European nations such as Belgium, Germany, France, and Denmark.
