A Novel SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Variant LF.7 Plus LS.2 is Behind a New COVID-19 Wave in India That Officials Are Hiding!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 22, 2025 1 month, 2 weeks, 3 days, 9 hours, 43 minutes ago
Medical News: A New Variant Emerges in the Shadows
India is facing a silent yet alarming resurgence of COVID-19, with hospitals in major cities like Chennai reporting a sharp rise in cases. According to a recent
Medical News report, this wave is not driven by the previously known variant NB.1.8.1, as some speculated, but by a new, undesignated recombinant of LF.7 and LS.2. This novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, identified through limited global genomic data, is spreading rapidly not only in India but also globally, raising fears of a new pandemic chapter.
A Novel SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Variant LF.7 Plus LS.2. is Behind a New COVID-19 Wave in
India That Officials Are Hiding!
Dr Xu Zou, a researcher tracking viral mutations, highlighted on X that this recombinant has a unique spike protein profile similar to XFJ/XFM variants, with mutations like T22N, S31P, and F456L, making it a potential threat.
https://x.com/xz_keg/status/1925038376975204730
India’s Genomic Sequencing Blackout
A major concern fueling global anxiety is India’s apparent lack of transparency in genomic sequencing. Despite the rising cases, India has submitted zero sequences to global databases in the past six months, as noted by Xu Zou in a follow-up post. This data blackout—whether due to a lack of sequencing efforts or deliberate withholding—has left the international scientific community in the dark. Many variant hunters are echoing this sentiment, stating that India’s refusal to share genomic data makes it impossible to assess the variant driving this wave. The absence of local data has forced researchers to rely on sparse global samples, with only four sequences from India in May 2025 revealing the presence of this new recombinant alongside LF.7.9.1 and XFG variants.
Fever Clinics Resurface Across India
As the silent spread intensifies, fever clinics are springing up across India, reminiscent of the early pandemic days. In Chennai, hospitals are overwhelmed with fever cases, initially attributed to influenza A and B but now increasingly linked to COVID-19, according to a Chennai Live Digital 104.8 report.
https://x.com/chennailive1048/status/1924864304471539761
The situation has led to the cancellation of critical surgeries like transplants and bypass procedures. Similar measures are being taken in Karnataka and Kerala, where fever clinics are being established to screen for symptoms. Historical data from The Indian Express (2020) shows Karnataka’s early adoption of such clinics, a strategy now being revived. In Kerala, border closures with neighboring states have been reinstated to curb the spread, signaling heightened alert levels.
Authorities Downplay the Crisis
Despite the mounting evidence of a new wave, Indian authorities appear to
be downplaying or concealing the true extent of the crisis. The Chennai Live report highlighted a troubling trend of nasal congestion, respiratory distress, and severe illness in ICUs, yet public health messaging has focused on flu vaccines and masking rather than addressing the COVID-19 surge head-on.
Critics argue this mirrors India’s 2021 crisis, when The Lancet reported an underestimation of cases due to testing backlogs and stigma. With only 40 hospital admissions reported out of a 1.5 billion population, as sarcastically noted many experts, the official numbers seem suspiciously low, fueling speculation of a cover-up.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01121-1/fulltext
A Global Call to Action
The emergence of this LF.7/LS.2 recombinant, combined with India’s lack of transparency, has sparked urgent calls for international collaboration. The global spread of this variant, as seen in GISAID data from countries like the UAE and the USA, underscores the need for robust genomic surveillance. Without India’s cooperation, the world risks being blindsided by a potentially more dangerous strain, threatening global health security.
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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