Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41229566›Full record

ArticleHealth science reports2025

Resurgent COVID-19 Wave in India and South Asia: Is the NB.1.8.1 Variant a Renewed Global Health Concern?

Abir Hasan Pranto, Anika Tabassum Promi, Salsabil Islam, Md Rabiul Islam

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health science reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Abir Hasan PrantoDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Dhaka Dhaka Bangladesh.
Anika Tabassum PromiMicrobiology Program, Department of Mathematics and Natural Science BRAC University Dhaka Bangladesh.
Salsabil IslamDepartment of Pharmacy University of Asia Pacific Dhaka Bangladesh.
Md Rabiul IslamSchool of Pharmacy BRAC University Dhaka Bangladesh.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2820-3144

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and Aims: The re-emergence of COVID-19 in India and South Asia, driven by the Omicron variant (NB. 1.8.1), poses an urgent challenge to global pandemic preparedness amid waning citizen awareness and reduced monitoring. This review aims to examine the variant's characteristics, assess its public health impact, and evaluate the regional and global responses to this resurgence. Here, we examine the characteristics of the NB.1.8.1 outbreak, the magnitude of its effect on public health, and analyze regional and global responses. Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search across important databases to extract information, followed by concentrating on recent insights regarding the dissemination and therapeutic implications of SARS-CoV-2 NB.1.8.1 variant from PubMed, Nature, and The Lancet Infectious Diseases, and genomic surveillance tools including GISAID and Nextstrain in detail. Results: SARS-CoV-2 NB.1.8.1 variant showed mutations associated with higher transmissibility and evasion by immunity, which prompt fears among individuals with weakened immune system and poor uptake of the booster vaccine. The phenomenon of the emergence of this variant has resulted in more cases of infections and hospitalizations in South Asia, especially in the densely populated and poorly resourced regions. Although the actual deaths are not high, there is a threat of a faster spread and an overwhelmed health system. The reactive measures put in place by India and other neighboring countries include renewing vaccination campaigns, wearing masks, and genomic surveillance. However, there is still little response at the international level, partly due to the uncertainty of disease severity and low mortality rates by this variant. Conclusion: The article points to the relevance of novel therapeutics, a fast tool of diagnostics, and compliance with preventive measures among the population. Timely global cooperation, active communication, and responsive health-related mechanisms are required to tackle the current wave and avoid further surges in the future.

Indexed as

COVID‐19infectious diseaseNB.1.8.1 variantpandemicpublic healthSARS‐CoV‐2

Identifiers

PMID41229566
PMCPMC12602446

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.