Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7 detected in India:The first case of BF.7 in India was detected in October by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre. So far, two cases have been reported from Gujarat while one case has been reported from Odisha, said sources.
Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7 detected in India
The first case of BF.7 in India was detected in October by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre.The coronavirus pandemic has taken the world by storm – be it the economy or healthcare sector. Every passing year, a new variant strikes and after the Delta variant wreaked havoc in the second wave of COVID-19, OMICRON is the newest strain that has taken the world by storm. Now confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) OMICRON variant’s first-ever case was reported in South Africa, followed by similar cases in Hong Kong and Belgium.
Thermal Testing To Be Done At Airports In Maharashtra:
Health Minister No patient infected with a new Omicron variant, said to be driving China’s current surge of COVID-19 cases, has been detected so far in Maharashtra, but thermal screening will be conducted for air passengers arriving from countries
In the Covid review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Wednesday, experts said although there is no overall increase in Covid caseload as of now, there is a need for continued surveillance to keep a track of existing and emerging variants. According to official sources, Chinese cities are currently hit by the highly transmissible Omicron strain, mostly BF.7 which is the main variant spreading in Beijing and is contributing to a wider surge of Covid infections in that country.
What are the features of Omicron variant
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases of South Africa stated that there are currently no exceptional symptoms following the transition to B.1.1.529. However, patients infected with Omicron variant do not show symptoms as patients with delta-like variants.
The BF.7’s high transmissibility in China might be attributed to a low level of immunity in the Chinese population from the previous infection and possibly vaccination too,” an official source said. BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has the strongest infection ability since it is highly transmissible, has a shorter incubation period, and has a higher capacity to cause reinfection or infect even those vaccinated.
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What caution people and individuals should take
The WHO said countries could increase testing and make efforts to better understand SARS-CoV-2. People, on the other hand, should wear full face masks and do handwashing and maintain social distance, ensuring adequate ventilation even inside the house. People should not overcrowd and get vaccinated on time.
It has already been detected in several other countries, including the US, the UK and European nations such as Belgium, Germany, France and Denmark.
Can the new Omicron variant be detected through RT-PCR tests?
Although NICD said deletion within the S gene will help in rapid identification of the variant but “most other targets (including the N and RdRp genes) remain unaffected from specimens tested” Hence it is unlikely that the new variant will affect the overall PCR test sensitivity. “These PCR tests typically detect at least two different SARS-CoV-2 targets, which serves as a backup in the case of a mutation arising in one,” the NICD said.
According to experts, monoclonal antibodies to Omicron can also weaken the immune response caused by therapy, vaccination or natural infections. The WHO says no specific symptoms have been reported so far, but South Africa’s Dr. Angelique Coetzee was the first to report the COVID-19 omicron variant. According to him, the “unusual but mild” feature of Omicron is being observed. Dr. According to Angelique Coetzee, the characteristics of Omicron are different from those of Delta. Infection with another variant of Corona affected taste and sniffing ability, but this symptom was not seen in Omicron patients. There is also a sore throat but no complaint of cough.
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