Lab Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Involving RF.5.4 Sub-Lineages Rises to 49 in Andhra Pradesh-India with 4 Deaths and 24 Hospitalized
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 26, 2026 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Medical News: Fresh Infections Push State Caseload Higher
Andhra Pradesh has reported 10 new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, raising the state's total number of infections involving RF.5.4 sub-lineages to 49. Health authorities confirmed that the death toll remains at four, while 24 patients are currently hospitalized after developing more severe symptoms. This
Medical News report highlights the latest epidemiological developments as officials intensify disease surveillance across the state.
Andhra Pradesh records 49 confirmed RF.5.4 COVID-19 cases, with 24 hospitalized and four deaths as surveillance intensifies
New RF.5.4 Variants:
RF.5.4 is a descendant within the extended BA.2.86/JN.1 evolutionary lineage, a branch that has remained the dominant source of globally reported SARS-CoV-2 sequences since late 2023. In the Pango nomenclature system, it is designated B.1.1.529.2.86.1.1.16.1.7.9.1.1.1.1.5. Its evolutionary pathway follows the sequence JN.1 → LF.7 → PY.1 → PY.1.1 → PY.1.1.1 → RF.5.
Before the emergence of RF.5, the intermediate lineage PY.1.1.1 had already accumulated the spike substitution S together with ORF1a. RF.5 subsequently acquired two additional spike changes: S and a reversion at position 478 (S). A further descendant, RF.5.4, is characterized by the ORF1a substitution (nucleotide C5178A) and has become particularly common in India, representing a notable proportion of recently sequenced isolates in several states.
Other mutations that have been identified across various RF.5-related branches include ORF1b, ORF3a, and N, although these are not necessarily present in every descendant lineage.
The new RF.5.4 variant and its sub-lineages first gained public attention after health authorities in Andhra Pradesh reported four genome-confirmed infections from Kadapa district, with sequencing performed at the National Institute of Virology in Pune…all occurring in individuals with significant underlying medical conditions and also in the 4 dead individuals.
According to Indian public health officials, infections attributed to RF.5.4 have generally produced initial symptoms consistent with previous Omicron variants, including sore throat, cough, mild fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches, with suspicion that the new sub-lineage though having low transmissions rates and are causing more severe disease. There are emerging concerns that certain newly identified descendants of RF.5.4 may be associated with increased disease severity and could have contributed to some of the reported fatalities, although further epidemiological and laboratory investigations are needed to determine whether this relationship is causal.
District-Wise Distribution and Patient Status
According to official data, Guntur district recorded three of the newly detected cases, while NTR district reported two. Single new infections were identified in Alluri Sitaramaraju, E
luru, Krishna, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam districts. East Godavari continues to report the highest cumulative case count with 11 infections, followed by Guntur with nine and YSR Kadapa with eight. Visakhapatnam has recorded five cases, NTR three, while Kakinada, Eluru, and Bapatla have each reported two infections.
Among all confirmed cases, 24 patients remain hospitalized because of disease severity, while another 16 individuals are recovering at home under medical supervision. Health officials also confirmed that five patients have fully recovered and have been discharged from hospital care.
Fatalities and Heightened Surveillance
The state has recorded four COVID-19-related deaths so far, including three in YSR Kadapa district and one in Kakinada. In response to the increase in confirmed infections, the Andhra Pradesh Health Department has strengthened surveillance activities, enhanced monitoring efforts, and ensured that sufficient hospital beds remain available to manage any further rise in admissions.
The latest figures indicate that health authorities are maintaining close vigilance over the evolving outbreak, with rapid case detection, hospitalization of severe patients, and preparedness measures aimed at limiting further transmission while ensuring healthcare facilities remain equipped to respond effectively to changing epidemiological conditions.
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Medical News.
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