India’s first case of Omicron BA.5 variant detected in Telangana

The primary case of Omicron sub-variant BA.5 in India has been detected in Telangana. An 80-year-old man in Hyderabad has examined constructive for the sub-variant, as per Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). His genome sequencing outcomes have been obtained on Sunday.

The octogenarian, who’s totally vaccinated, has no journey historical past and confirmed proven solely delicate scientific signs, in response to INSACOG’s assertion.

INSACOG has additionally confirmed {that a} South African traveler, a 40-year-old man, was reported constructive for the BA.4 variant on arrival at Hyderabad airport. It was the primary case of BA.4 Omicron sub-variant in India. All contacts of the 2 sufferers have been traced.

It was learnt that the South African man reached India on Might 9 to offer a lecture at a enterprise faculty in Hyderabad. He examined constructive for the BA.4 sub-variant on Might 18.

After him, a 19-year-old woman in Tamil Nadu was discovered contaminated with the BA.4 sub-variant.

“BA.4 and BA.5 are sub-variants of the Omicron variant circulating globally. These have been reported first from South Africa earlier this 12 months and at the moment are reported from a number of different international locations. These variants haven’t been related to illness severity or elevated hospitalisation,” INSACOG stated.

Senior officers of the Telangana Well being division stated samples of all instances within the State which check constructive for coronavirus are despatched for genome sequencing. The each day COVID-19 caseload this month has been between 25 and 50.