New Omicron sub-variant in 18 cases across Maharashtra, but mild in nature

As per INSACOG lab's latest report, 18 cases of XBB variant have been reported in Maharashtra in the first fortnight of October month.

FILE-Wall painting to give message wear a mask and save lives to protect from COVID. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

Even as a total of 18 cases with XBB – a recombinant of Omicron’s BA.2.75 and BJ.1 sub -variants — have been reported in Maharashtra of which 13 are from Pune, preliminary information indicates they are of a mild nature.

“Epidemiological information of all these cases is being collected and as per the primary information, all these cases are of mild nature,” said Dr Pradeep Awate, Maharashtra surveillance officer, on Wednesday. Symptoms are similar to the previous Omicron variant, he added.

According to a new state health department report, two cases each were from Nagpur and Thane and one from Akola district.

As per INSACOG lab’s latest report, 18 cases of XBB variant have been reported in Maharashtra in the first fortnight of October month. Apart from these cases, Pune has also reported one case each of BQ.1 and BA.2.3.20. These cases were reported between September 24 and October 11.

According to Dr Awate, 15 of these 20 cases have a history of Covid vaccination while information in five cases is to be received. The BQ.1 case of Pune is of mild variety and has a reported history of travel to the USA. “Genetic mutations are part of the natural lifecycle of the virus and there is no need for panic but with various upcoming festivals, there is definitely a need to take appropriate precautions for Covid containment,” said a state health official.

Dr Sanjeev Wavare, assistant chief medical officer, Pune Municipal Corporation, told The Indian Express that all patients had mild symptoms and none of them was hospitalized.

According to infectious diseases expert Dr Sanjay Pujari, more data is required as these are next generation variants or sub-lineages of the Omicron family. “The virus will continue to evolve and it is unclear how severe this is presently. So, the population with co-morbid conditions needs to take their precaution or booster dose and it is important to continue to wear masks in closed settings,” Dr Pujari said.

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There are 2,688 active Covid-19 cases in the state as on Wednesday of which 418 are new cases. The state tally of Covid-19 positive patients is now 81,28,676. Mumbai reported 244 new covid cases Wednesday while Pune circle (Pune city, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune rural, Solapur and Satara) reported 105 new cases.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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