Nearly 80% of COVID samples sent for genome-sequencing by labs in Kolkata have the BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, nicknamed the 'stealth version', as per TNN.?
It is called so as it cannot be picked up in RT-PCR tests and only genome-sequencing can detect it.?
What is interesting is that nearly none of those found infected with BA.2 had any immediate history of foreign travel, said a senior health official.
150 or so positive samples have already been sequenced.?
While about 80% are Omicron-positive, all but 2 were BA.2-positive.?
They had a CT value below 30 meaning a high viral load.?
These samples were sent for genome sequencing between December 22 and 28.?
"Omicron is replacing Delta. Though there is an indication about the BA.2 subtype being more prevalent, we need a bigger sample size to draw a conclusion," said RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences microbiologist Swatilekha Banerjee.
"About 70% of our samples tested positive to Omicron, mostly of the BA.2 lineage. This was a week ago. Given the high transmissibility, the presence of Omicron is likely to have increased a lot more," said Shelly Sharma Ganguly, AMRI Dhakuria microbiologist.?
"The virus will keep mutating. Hence the need for genomic sequence surveillance," said Peerless Hospital microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri.
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