COVID-19: Did SARS-CoV-2 originate in raccoon dogs from Wuhan wet market? New data gives links

Meanwhile, Israel reports new COVID-19 variant — a combination of BA.1 and BA.2 subvariants of Omicron

How do you make a universal flu vaccine? A microbiologist explains

Success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 shows promise for their use in achieving the vision of an effective universal influenza vaccine

FAQ on COVID-19 subvariant XBB.1.5: Why is it nicknamed ‘Kraken’?

Answers to questions like what is it, where is it prevalent and how does it differ from Omicron

Infographic: Do we need a booster dose?

Omicron, the most common COVID-19 strain in the world today, has dramatically reduced the efficacy and duration of vaccine protection 

The ‘kraken’ COVID variant XBB.1.5 is rising quickly in the US — here’s what it could mean for the UK

While XBB’s mutations enable it to evade our immune systems better than previous omicron subvariants, it doesn’t appear to be causing&…

China’s definition of COVID deaths ‘very narrow’, country’s data ‘under-represents’ severity: WHO

Updated definition is narrow since it counts only those deaths caused by COVID-induced pneumonia or respiratory failures

Lifecycle of COVID-19: Yet another omicron sub-variant has countries on high alert

 XBB.1.5 shows how dynamic and wide-reaching SARS-CoV-2 variant evolution is, says expert

2022 too short, too far: How the pandemic progressed

Down To Earth recaps the primary environment, health and developmental news from 2022

Fingers crossed: Experts cautious about variant evolution in the wake of China’s COVID-19 tsunami

Any new variant that emerges from the current surge in China may not have the same lethal ability as past ones. But one cannot rule out …

COVID: What we know about new omicron variant BF.7

BF.7 may well cause more serious illness in people with weaker immune systems.  

Can China’s dynamic zero-COVID policy survive in the face of citizen protests, infectious variants?

China is recording more than 70,000 COVID-19 cases daily, a pandemic high for the country  

COVID-19: Infections to rise in India in winter; more hospital resources needed

In the past 24 hours, India reported 1,946 new cases

New ‘highly infectious’ Omicron strains scare China

BF.7 variant was first detected in the northwestern region of China and has spread fast to the southern side

COVID-19: Is SARS-CoV-2 evolving differently after omicron

Cases are expected to rise with the advent of winter

COVID-19: Time to watch out for BF.7

For almost a year now, omicron and its lineages and sub-lineages have dominated the global COVID-19 variant map

Patients unaware of omicron infection, may be contributing to COVID-19 spread: Report

Study finds 56% people were unaware of infection status  

COVID-19 surge in Delhi: 8-10 deaths every day, doctors recommend masks, booster dose

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Delhi can be attributed to the dominance of omicron sub-variant BA 2.75

A vaccine only for Omicron: Does India really need it?

Experts bat for considering benefits, economics carefully before spending on bivalent shots    

COVID-19: BA.5 spread has differed from one country to another; here is why

Eric Topol, a US-based professor of molecular medicine, argues it is the immunity wall of a country that plays a decisive role in whether BA.…

Omicron’s BA.5 sub-variant is 4 times more vaccine-resistant

Study finds sub-lineage behind rise in COVID-19 cases in Europe, US

Clever coronavirus: Spike mutations help Omicron dodge antibodies

Research findings can help developers of vaccines, treatments understand what part of novel coronavirus to target    

Experts suggest updating vaccines for new variants. How does it work & what are the challenges?

It is easier to update certain vaccine platforms than others, say experts

Update COVID-19 vaccine to target omicron variants: Advisory panel to USFDA

Unclear which combination of updated vaccine will work best; body expected to decide by July

COVID-19: Omicron's stealthy behaviour behind reinfections in people with immunity, says new study

People infected with initial strains had less sustained antibody response to omicron, scientists find

COVID-19: What’s driving Portugal’s high caseload, toll despite impressive vaccination rates?

Around 87% of Portugal’s population is fully vaccinated & over 65% received boosters