• A newly emerging Covid-19 variant, XFG, has been detected in India, according to INSACOG data. So far 163 cases have been identified from 6,000-odd cases in the country.

• The XFG variant is a descendant of the Omicron sub-variant, which was first detected in Canada, according to The Lancet journal.

• Originating from LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, XFG harbours four key spike mutations (His445Arg, Asn487Asp, Gln493Glu, and Thr572Ile). It has achieved rapid global spread, the study added. 

• The XFG variant has “strong immune evasion”, which makes way for the virus to survive and spread as it manages to evade the body's natural defences, the report said. 

• According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the XFG variant of the COVID-19-causing virus has been found in a total of 163 samples — highest (89) in Maharashtra, followed by Tamil Nadu (16), Kerala (15), Gujarat (11), and Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal (six each).

• In May, as many as 159 samples were detected with XFG variant while two samples tested for this variant in April and two in June yet, data shows.

Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG)

• The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) was established by the government of India in December 2020.

• It was jointly initiated by the Union Health Ministry, and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) with Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

• It is a national multi-agency consortium of Genome Sequencing Laboratories. 

• Initially, this consortium had 10 laboratories. Subsequently, the scope of laboratories under INSACOG was expanded to 64 laboratories to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2. 

• The overall aim of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium INSACOG is to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network. 

• The mandate of INSACOG has evolved with time and the focus shifted from primarily tracking variants among international passengers to early detection of variants that may emerge within the country. 

It has the following objectives:

i) Early detection of genomic variants of public health implication through sentinel surveillance.

ii) To determine the genomic variants in unusual events/trends (vaccine breakthrough, superspreader events, high mortality/morbidity trend areas, etc.)

iii) To correlate the genome surveillance data with epidemiological data.

iv) To suggest public health actions based on the analysis of genomic and epidemiological surveillance data.

• The data from the genome sequencing laboratories is being analysed as per the field data trends to study the linkages, if any, between the genomic variants and epidemiological trends.

• This helps to understand superspreader events, outbreaks and strengthen public health interventions across the country to help in breaking the chains of transmission.

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