Lok Sabha Question No. 2849 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: Spreading of BF.7 Variant
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2849 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2023

## SPREADING OF BF.7 VARIANT

## 2849   SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to contain the spread of the BF.7 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus presently dominant in China and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any case of BF.7 variant have been detected in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  maintain  the  surveillance  and testing for potential cases; and
- (d) whether the Government is planning to issue any guidelines to control the spread of BF.7 variant cases and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE ( DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): In view of increasing trajectory of COVID-19 cases in China and certain other countries during December, 2022 and the possibility of association of this increase with newer variants of SARS-CoV-2 (including BF.7), an additional requirement of pre-departure testing and uploading of negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test reports and self-health declaration form on Air Suvidha portal was  made  mandatory  in  the  past  for  travellers  coming  from/transiting  via  these  countries. However, based on declining COVID-19 trajectory in these countries, an updated guideline issued on 10 th February, 2023, wherein the additional requirements were dropped.

2% of the total passengers in all incoming international flights are required to undergo post arrival COVID-19 testing, irrespective of port of departure to monitor positive cases and their variants.

Given  the  emergence  of  variants  of  COVID-19  virus  with  variable  transmissibility  and  their possible health implications, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network laboratories conducts whole genome sequencing of samples for detection of mutant variants of the virus.

Union Ministry of Health has issued and widely circulated 'Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance  Strategy  in  Context  of  COVID-19'  which  focusses  on  early  detection,  isolation, testing, and management of suspected and confirmed cases; detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and monitoring the trends of existing variants. As a part of this surveillance strategy, samples from international travellers to India testing positive for COVID-19 are referred

to INSACOG network laboratories for whole genome sequencing and detection of newer variants in addition to maintaining community/sentinel site based surveillance.

As on 13 th March 2023, 23 cases of BF.7 and their sub-lineages have been reported  by these INSACOG network laboratories. State-UT wise detail of number of cases tested positive for BF.7 variant and its sub-lineages is as below:

| VOC State/UT   | BF.7   | BF.7.12   | BF.7.14   | BF.7.15   | BF.7.4   | BF.7.4.1   | BF.7.5.1   | BF.7.6   | Total   |
|----------------|--------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------|------------|------------|----------|---------|
| Gujarat        | 2      | 1 -       | -         | -         | -        | 1          | 1          | 5        |         |
| Maharashtra    | 3      | -         | -         | -         | -        | -          | -          | 1        | 4       |
| West Bengal    | 4      | -         | -         | -         | -        | -          | -          | -        | 4       |
| Delhi          | -      | -         | 1         | 2         | -        | -          | -          | -        | 3       |
| Haryana        | 2      | -         | -         | -         | -        | -          | -          | -        | 2       |
| Karnataka      | 1      | -         | -         | -         | 1        | -          | -          | -        | 2       |
| Chhattisgarh   | -      | -         | -         | -         | -        | 1          | -          | -        | 1       |
| Odisha         | 1      | -         | -         | -         | -        | -          | -          | -        | 1       |
| Tamil Nadu     | -      | -         | -         | 1         | -        | -          | -          | -        | 1       |

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