Maharashtra reports the first cases of New Omicron Sub-Variants.
In at least seven cases in Pune, Maharashtra reported its first cases of Covid-19 infection with BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron type of virus on Saturday. According to a report from the state health department, four individuals with BA.4 variants and 3 individuals with BA.5 variants were found in Pune.
“We have appealed to the district administration to increase testing, be alert for abnormal presentations or clusters of cases,” Dr. Pradeep Vyas, assistant chief secretary of the public health department, told reporters.
People participating in the genome surveillance reported that India had discovered the first suspected occurrences of the BA.4 variation in samples taken from a traveler from South Africa earlier this month in Hyderabad.
In Tamil Nadu and Telangana, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) verified the discovery of cases with BA.4 and BA.5 mutations. On the other hand, Officials claim that it is not yet a cause for alarm because it is a branch of the Omicron variant, which has already spread widely over the country and has had a less serious effect than the Delta version that wreaked havoc last year.
Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants were recognized for the first time in South Africa. The BA.4 variant was discovered in a specimen taken in Limpopo, South Africa, on January 10, 2022, while the BA.5 variant was discovered on February 25 in KwaZulu-Natal. While both are Omicron sub-lineages, the two new VOCs have more in common with the BA.2 lineage than with the BA.1 lineage, which was more frequent in South Africa.
High transmissibility, according to experts, should not be associated with increased hospitalization or death rates. Four patients were found with the B.A.4 and three with the B.A.5 subvariants. Health officials said 2 of the individuals had traveled to South Africa and Belgium, while three traveled to Kerala and Karnataka. A nine-year-old child was infected, officials have informed.
Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) had earlier confirmed BA.4 and BA.5 variants in Tamil Nadu and Telangana. A teenager in Tamil Nadu was found and enquired with the BA.4 type of Omicron in Tamil Nadu, while a male from Telangana had tested positive for the BA.5 variant. BA.4 and BA.5 were found in South Africa earlier this year. The Omicron virus and its variant have become the dominant strain globally and have spread to several countries.
China has been the worst-hit country with the Omicron virus in recent months, with financial hub Shanghai recently recovered from a hard lockdown. According to a study from the state health department on whole genomic sequencing, four people with BA.4 variants and 3 people with BA.5 variants were found in Pune.
On the other hand, some people say that it is not yet a cause for concern because it is an offshoot of the Omicron version, which has already spread across the country and caused more havoc than the Delta variant wreaked havoc last year. The COVID has of fact has already caused great destruction in the lives of many people and now again this new variant is somewhere bringing the starting terror among the people.
“Each of the 6 people has had both vaccine dosages, with one getting a booster shot. The child has never been immunized against anything. They all had minimal COVID-19 signs and were treated satisfactorily in home isolation, “As stated by the official.
In early May, a 19-year-old lady with no overseas travel history was diagnosed with BA.4. She was properly vaccinated, according to INSACOG, and had only minimal clinical signs. These signs were tested under proper supervision but she had only some of the symptons or signs.
During a sample at the Hyderabad airport, a tourist from South Africa discovered the other BA.4 case. The BA.5 was discovered in an 80-year-old Hyderabad man who had no previous international travel experience. He was likewise entirely protected from Covid-19, with relatively minor clinical signs.
Their samples were collected between the 4th and the 18th of May. Two had visited South Africa and Belgium, while the other three had visited Kerala and Karnataka. According to him, the other two patients had no recent travel history.
Dr. Pradeep Awate, epidemiologist and the State Surveillance Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, said that B.A. 4 and B.A. 5 are sub-lineages of Omicron, which is known for being mild.
Hence, “there is nothing to worry about its sub-lineages,” he said. “However, it is highly transmissible, which is one of the reasons behind the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the last week. The cases are steadily going up everywhere, but patients are not being hospitalized in large numbers,” Awate added.
“There is no severity found in the infection of these Omicron sub-lineages. But state officials are closely watching the situation,” he said. On May 22, a B.A.4. In Tamil Nadu, a case was found, while a B.A.5 infection was reported in Telangana.
