NB.1.8.1, LF.7 variants of COVIDdetected in India: INSACOG data

 

 

 

ONE case of the newly-emerging COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 and four instances of the LF.7 type have been detected in India, according to INSACOG data. As of May 2025, the World Health Organisation classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring, not as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest.But these are the variants that are reportedly driving the rise inCOVID cases in China and parts of Asia. According to data fromIndian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), one case of NB.1.8.1 was identified inApril inTamilNadu and 4 cases of LF. 7 were detected in Gujarat in May.

 

In India, the most common variant remains JN.1, comprising 53 per cent of samples tested, followed by BA.2 (26 per cent) and other Omicron sublineages (20 per cent). Though WHO’s preliminary risk assessment classifies NB.1.8.1 as posing a low public health risk globally, its spike protein mutations such as A435S, V445H, and T478I suggest increased transmissibility and immune evasion compared to other variants.