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Sunday, February 22, 2026
TopicCovid strain

Topic: Covid strain

Scientist who discovered the Omicron variant explains why a ‘global fund’ is a necessity

Rapid tracking of emerging pathogens or variants of concern of known pathogens is key to stopping the next pandemic, epidemic or outbreak.

Why Covid variants seem to appear in Maharashtra first

Delta Plus variant, flagged as a 'variant of concern', seemingly first appeared in Maharashtra, where 21 cases have been detected so far. Its ancestor — the B.1.617 — also appeared first in the state in February.

This is what makes India’s Delta variant of coronavirus so worrisome

It has about a 40% higher transmission rate compared with alpha, which already had a 50% higher transmissibility than the original Covid strain, based on data coming out of the UK.

ICMR study finds P.2, Covid strain first found in Brazil, more severe than original variant

P.2 or B.1.1.28.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2, however, has so far had very less prevalence, with less than 0.5% of the viral samples detected worldwide showing this strain.

UK likely to speed up vaccine second doses due to fear of Covid variant from India

Cases of the B.1.617.2 strain have risen to 1,313 over the past week, Public Health England said Thursday, assessing it to be 'at least as transmissible' as the so-called Kent variant.

B.1.617 ‘double mutant’ Covid strain first found in India now detected in 44 countries: WHO

Early analysis suggests B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 have a substantially higher growth rate than other circulating variants in India, suggesting potential increased transmissibility.

Covid variant B.1.617.2 is spreading fast in India, genome data shows

The B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus consists of at least 3 sub-lineages — B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3. The B.1.617.2 lineage is now growing in prevalence across the country.

On Camera

Youth Congress, your foolish protest helped the Modi govt climb out of the AI summit hole

In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

MoD, IAF agree on some exemptions to HAL for Tejas Mk1A, but no compromise on ‘must-have’ capabilities

IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.