India Reports Over 100 New COVID-19 Cases Amid Southeast Asia’s JN.1 Variant Surge. A new wave of COVID-19 cases has been observed across Southeast Asia. There are other countries also in which many active cases have been found, such as Hong Kong and Singapore. A new variant has been found, which is believed to be the main cause behind COVID-19 cases across Asia. The patients suffering from this virus have died, due to which this virus got its highlight across the world. To know more about the topic “India Reports Over 100 New COVID-19 Cases Amid Southeast Asia’s JN.1 Variant Surge,” read the complete article.
India Reports Over 100 New COVID-19 Cases Amid Southeast Asia’s JN.1 Variant Surge
More than five years after COVID-19 wreaked havoc across the world, a fresh wave of the virus has emerged in various parts of Asia and has raised alarms worldwide. India is also seeing a rise in cases, with top-affected states Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu leading the tally. According to official statements by PTI, India reported 257 active cases as of 19 May 2025. In India, a high-level review meeting was convened to assess the domestic situation. The meeting included experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, Emergency Medical Relief division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research and central government hospitals.
Officials concluded that while the region is seeing a surge, “the number of cases seen until Monday was very low considering the large population of the country.” They also confirmed that almost all cases in India have been mild and did not require hospitalization. “A robust system for surveillance of respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, also exists in the country through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR,” an official noted.
About JN.1
Dr. Samantaray said, “A new wave of COVID-19 circulating in southeast Asia with its epicenter in Singapore, has been in the news for the last few days. Along with Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok are also reporting a sudden rise in cases… such a peak can be due to the waning population immunity, non-compliance with the annual vaccination protocol, and the emergence of new sub-variants.”
She added, “According to health authorities, this fresh wave is due to a new Omicron subvariant-LF.7 and NB.1.8, both subvariants of the JN.1 lineage, which was responsible for the last major global wave affecting the united States and parts of Europe in 2024. Even though this variant is not officially labelled as a variant of concern by WHO, the rapid spreading potential of the strains compared to previous variants has prompted Governments to make their surveillance and case-finding systems more stringent”.
Signs and Symptoms of JN.1 Variant
Most infected individuals experience mild upper respiratory symptoms. Some common symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, exhaustion, and minor gastrointestinal problems. In some cases, the new variant may also present with a loss of appetite and persistent nausea. These symptoms are usually mild and typically improve within four to five days.
Doctors said that most cases are mild and can be managed at home. However, high-risk individuals—such as the elderly, people with diabetes or heart disease, or those on immunosuppressants—should remain extra cautious.” Most patients recover well, but we are seeing more moderate cases in high-risk groups,” noted Dr. Goyal.
Precautions You Can Take Right Now
Dr. Samantaray said, “Considering the fast-spreading capability of the strain, it is advisable to vaccinate all the individuals above six months of age, prioritizing the high-risk groups, including the elderly (above 60 years), those with diabetes or any chronic conditions, and also the healthcare and other front-line workers. As the COVID-19 vaccine available has JN.1 strain as its base formulation, it is expected to offer broader coverage against the circulating LF.7 and NB.1.8 strains, which are nothing but the variants of the latter”.
According to Dr. Modi, ‘vaccines are still helpful.’ He said, “Even though this new variant can partly escape the protection from earlier infection or vaccines, the vaccines are still doing a good job of preventing serious illness. If it has been more than six months since your last dose and you are in a high-risk group, it’s a good idea to check with a doctor about getting a booster shot. In short, the virus is behaving more like the seasonal flu now. There is no need to worry, but we all should stay alert, take care of our health, and protect those who are more likely to fall seriously ill.”
