Omicron strains 20-30 % more infectious; INSACOG to review data of genomic surveillance of COVID variants

According to reports, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) will evaluate the results of genetic monitoring of COVID-19 variations on Friday, amid mounting COVID cases in the national capital and other States.

Different strains of Omicron are proliferating across the country, including the nation’s capital; these strains are 20-30% more infectious than the original Omicron virus.

“The current strains that are doing rounds all over are 20-30 per cent more infectious than Omicron sub-variants, but hospitalisation and deaths are still low,” said Dr NK Arora, Chairperson of COVID working group National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

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“These sub-variants are BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75, BA.2.38, however, any surge in hospitalization or any disease severity has not been observed so far,” said Dr Arora.

According to the bulletin issued on July 11 by INSACOG, Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the dominant variant in India.

“BA.2.75 sub-variant has acquired more mutations in spike protein and other genes of the SARS-CoV-2 and it also mentioned that the variant is being closely monitored,” he said.

The Union Health Ministry of Health and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched INSACOG on Thursday, reporting 2,726 new COVID-19 cases and six fatalities in the previous 24 hours. The current positive rate is 14.38 percent.

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