New Delhi — A new and fast-spreading COVID-19 variant, XFJ, has emerged in India, with 163 confirmed cases and 769 new infections recorded within just 48 hours, according to the Union Ministry of Health. This sharp rise has pushed the country’s active caseload beyond 6,000.
The XFJ variant, a recombinant strain first detected in Canada, carries four major spike protein mutations and is believed to be contributing to a renewed global spread, as reported in The Lancet medical journal.
Maharashtra leads with the highest number of XFJ cases at 89, followed by Tamil Nadu (16), Kerala (15), Gujarat (11), and six each in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. Notably, 159 of these cases were reported in May alone.
Kerala now holds the highest number of active COVID cases nationwide, while daily infections are also rising in Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Delhi — prompting concerns among public health experts over a possible resurgence.
Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and urging continued vigilance as the new variant spreads.
