Wed May 28 17:29:36 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the text:

**Summary:**

The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised member states, including India, to maintain a risk-based approach to managing COVID-19 as global SARS-CoV-2 activity has increased since mid-February 2025. Test positivity rates have reached 11%, a level unseen since July 2024. The rise is most notable in the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific regions. While the LP.8.1 variant is declining, the NB.1.8.1 variant is increasing. Vaccination remains crucial for preventing severe illness, especially for high-risk groups. India has reported over 1,000 cases this year. A pediatrician in Kolkata notes a gradual rise in cases in India, with children showing mild symptoms, emphasizing the need for continued precautions like handwashing, avoiding crowds, and mask-wearing when symptomatic.

**News Article:**

**Global COVID-19 Activity Surges, WHO Urges Continued Vigilance; India Reports Over 1,000 Cases This Year**

*New Delhi, May 29, 2025* – The World Health Organization (WHO) is advising all member states, including India, to maintain a risk-based, integrated approach to managing COVID-19 as global SARS-CoV-2 activity continues to climb. Data from sentinel sites indicates a significant increase in activity since mid-February, with test positivity rates reaching 11%, levels not seen since July 2024, the WHO confirmed.

According to the WHO’s latest global disease outbreak report on COVID-19, the surge is primarily concentrated in countries within the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific regions.

“Since early 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 variant trends have slightly shifted. Circulation of LP.8.1 has been declining, and reporting of NB.1.8.1, a Variant Under Monitoring, is increasing, reaching 10.7% of global sequences reported as of mid-May,” the WHO stated.

The organization emphasized that while the current increases are broadly consistent with levels observed during the same period last year, a clear seasonality in SARS-CoV-2 circulation remains absent, and ongoing surveillance is critical. Vaccination continues to be a key intervention, particularly for at-risk populations, in preventing severe disease and death.

In India, over 1,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported this year. Dr. Ruchi Golash, a pediatrician at CMRI Hospital in Kolkata, has observed a gradual increase in cases across the country, with children exhibiting symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and mild respiratory issues.

“These cases are largely not severe and don’t necessitate hospitalization, yet this should serve as a warning,” Dr. Golash cautioned. “We must remember that even with mild symptoms, children can still carry and spread the virus. Families should continue to tread with caution, practicing basic precautions like hand-washing, avoiding indoor crowds, and wearing masks in public, especially when experiencing cold or flu symptoms.”

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