Cancer patient & teen with Kidney disease die at Mumbai Hospital, test positive for Covid-19

Mumbai, May 20: A 59-year-old woman battling cancer and a 14-year-old girl suffering from kidney disease passed away at a state-run hospital in Parel. Both patients tested positive for COVID-19 after their deaths.

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Doctors at KEM Hospital, where the deaths occurred on Sunday, clarified that Covid-19 was not the cause of death in either case.

The 14-year-old paediatric patient, who had nephrotic syndrome, died due to kidney failure, while the cancer patient succumbed to sepsis, hospital authorities said.

These deaths have come at a time when Covid-19 cases are rising in regions like Singapore and Hong Kong. However, health officials in India have maintained that the country’s current Covid situation remains under control.

Authorities emphasized that there is no cause for alarm, noting that over time, viruses like Covid-19 tend to become endemic and significantly less severe.

Over the past two months, KEM Hospital has reported 15 Covid-19 cases, all of which were mild and flu-like. Every patient has since recovered without complications.

Experts note that while Covid-19 can still pose a risk to individuals with underlying health conditions, serious cases have become increasingly rare.

This comes at a time when countries like Singapore and Hong Kong are reporting a spike in Covid-19 cases, largely driven by offshoots of the JN.1 variant, such as LF.7 and NB.1.8. These sublineages have shown increased transmissibility, though they typically cause only mild symptoms.

What is the JN.1 variant?

JN.1 is a subvariant of Omicron and descends from the BA.2.86 (Pirola) strain, known for its large number of mutations. Identified in late 2023, JN.1 has spread across multiple countries, including India. What sets it apart is a unique mutation in the spike protein, which may give it an edge in spreading more easily and avoiding some immune defenses.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized JN.1 as a “variant of interest,” signaling the need for close monitoring but not immediate concern.

Mild symptoms, but high transmissibility

JN.1 does not appear to cause more severe illness than previous Omicron variants. Common symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, dry cough, and nasal congestion. In rare cases, it may also cause gastrointestinal symptoms or conjunctivitis. While most people recover without complications, those with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses remain at higher risk.

This aligns with observations at KEM Hospital, where 15 Covid-19 cases have been reported in the past two months. All were mild and resolved without complications.

Vaccines still offer protection

Though vaccine effectiveness against infection may be slightly reduced with JN.1, updated mRNA vaccines continue to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Health officials urge at-risk populations to stay current with booster doses, particularly those updated in 2023–2024 to target newer variants.

While the recent deaths at KEM Hospital were not caused by Covid-19, they underscore the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals—especially as more transmissible variants like JN.1 circulate. India's current Covid-19 situation remains under control, but experts stress continued vigilance, testing, and vaccination to prevent future spikes and protect high-risk groups.