FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025
Nagaland Health department issues Covid-19 advisory amid emergence of new variants
In view of the detection of new Covid-19 variants in India, the department of Health and Family Welfare (DoH&FW), Nagaland, has issued an advisory
Published on May 28, 2025
By EMN
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- DIMAPUR — In view of the detection of new Covid-19 variants in India, the department of Health and Family Welfare (DoH&FW), Nagaland, has issued an advisory urging citizens to follow preventive health measures and district health officials to step up surveillance, testing, and hospital preparedness.
- According to the advisory issued on Wednesday, one case of the NB.1.8.1 variant and four cases of the LF.7 variant have been detected in the country so far. Both variants are currently classified as Variants under Monitoring (VUMs) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and are not considered dangerous at this stage.
- However, they have been linked to rising case numbers in countries such as China and parts of Asia.
- In India, the JN.1 variant remains the most common, with reported symptoms generally mild and hospitalisations remaining low. Based on WHO assessments, the global health risk from NB.1.8.1 is currently considered low, it said.
- Current symptoms and preventive measures
- As per the advisory, symptoms observed include low-grade fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, occasional dry cough, headache, fatigue, gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea in some cases, mild body aches, loss of taste or smell, and shortness of breath (unless underlying issues exist).
- The DoH&FW has reiterated a list of dos and don’ts, urging people to wear masks in crowded areas, practise hand hygiene, maintain physical distancing, and avoid public gatherings if symptomatic.
- Along with this, the department has advised citizens to stay informed through official channels and avoid sharing personal items such as masks or bottles. It also advised citizens not to ignore symptoms and to consult healthcare workers in case of flu-like symptoms.
- Directive to district health officials
- In a separate directive to all Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), the department highlighted the need for intensified monitoring of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI), given the overlapping symptoms with Covid-19.
- CMOs have been directed to ensure regular reporting of ILI and SARI cases through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), and to refer adequate samples for testing of both influenza and Covid-19.
- The directive has also called for district health facilities to assess preparedness in terms of hospital beds, ICU availability, medical equipment and oxygen supplies, PPE, and staff readiness. It advised capacity-building for healthcare personnel on updated clinical guidelines and improving vaccination coverage. It also called for increased testing in the districts with adequate testing by RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests to reach standards prescribed by MoHFW.
- To limit transmission, CMOs have been instructed to promote mask-wearing—particularly among healthcare workers and vulnerable individuals—as well as encourage early testing and reporting of symptoms.
- Health authorities have been requested to prioritise these measures and provide regular updates to the department.
Nagaland Districts
