Arya News - Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand have been affected, as Nepal scales up surveillance at border points.
KATHMANDU – Although several countries and territories—Singapore, Hong Kong of China, Thailand and India—have of late reported a surge in coronavirus cases, health authorities in Nepal say they have not noticed a rise in Covid cases here.
Officials said only one case of Covid has been detected of late. As a result, gene sequencing has also not been carried out to determine the virus’s properties.
“Only one case of Covid has been detected since the start of 2025,” said Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta, director at the National Public Health Laboratory. “We don’t even have enough swab samples from Covid-infected persons to carry out whole-genome sequencing.”
Whole-genome sequencing is a comprehensive method of analysing the entire DNA sequence of an organism’s genes. Such sequencing can help track the severity and properties of the virus.
The recent surge in new Covid cases in Southeast Asia is being driven by the JN.1 variant, which is a descendant of the Omicron BA.2.86. The World Health Organisation said that the JN.1 variant has around 30 mutations, including LF.7 and NB.1.8, the most common sub-variant responsible for the current surge.
Nepal previously reported outbreaks of Omicron BA.2.86 and its several sub-lineages, including JN.1. The symptoms of the JN.1 are similar to other variants, including fever, dry cough, loss of taste or smell, headache, runny nose, exhaustion and sore throat. Studies show JN.1 variant may cause more severe diarrhoea than other variants.
In 2024, Nepal recorded 421 coronavirus infections.
According to media reports, India currently has 257 active Covid cases, and almost all cases are mild, and no hospitalisation is required. Indian states—Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, among others—have reported a surge in new cases. Two deaths of Covid patients have also been reported in Mumbai, but doctors say that the deaths were not caused by the coronavirus itself, as both patients had underlying health issues.
Singapore reported 14,200 cases of coronavirus until May 3. Thailand reported 19 deaths and 71,067 infections between January 1 and May 14, 2025, according to media reports. The surge in the number of infections is blamed on XEC variant, a newly emerged recombinant strain of Omicron, first identified in Germany in June 2024. It is a hybrid of two sub variants—KS.1.1 and KP.3.3—and carries multiple mutations that enable faster transmission.
Hong Kong also reported as many as 30 deaths in the past four weeks, according to media reports.
As immunity gained from both previous infections and vaccinations has waned over time, experts warn that Nepal could also see a new surge in the coming days.
“Virus could enter Nepal at any time due to geographic proximity with, and the movement of people, from countries that are seeing a spike in infections,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital. “We’ve already witnessed Covid outbreaks here after surges in other countries.”
Experts are asking the authorities concerned to step up surveillance measures, including conducting coronavirus tests on patients with influenza-like symptoms. They have also urged the public to follow basics—wearing face masks, washing hands and avoiding crowds to cut down on infection risks.
Meanwhile, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division on Thursday held a meeting with stakeholders and agencies and instructed them to step up surveillance measures.
“We have decided to step up surveillance measures at the Tribhuvan International Airport, as it is an entry point for travellers from countries witnessing a Covid surge—Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and India,” said Dr Chandra Bhal Jha, director at the division. “Along with the international airport, we have also alerted health workers at land border points to stay vigilant.”
The division has also asked health facilities to be prepared to deal with a possible new surge. Officials said that they have requested the World Health Organisation’s Nepal office for Covid test kits in anticipation of a surge.
“We have a limited number of testing kits in our stock, and they cannot be purchased immediately by following due process,” said Jha. “So we have informed the UN health office about our condition.”
Officials at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital said that they have been asked to be ready to treat patients with Covid-like symptoms.
“Those returning from disease-hit countries and who show Covid-like symptoms will be brought to our hospital,” said Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director at the hospital. “As cases are rising in neighbouring countries, everyone must follow safety measures, about which we are all aware of.”
Read More:
Indonesia on alert as COVID-19 surges across Asia