Omicron, sub-lineages dominant variant in India
August 06, 2022  12:55
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The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), in a weekly meeting, reviewed the data of genomic surveillance of variants and found that at present, Omicron and its sub-lineages are the predominant mutataions that are circulating in India.

"Presently, only Omicron and its sub-lineages are the predominant circulating variants in India," sources told ANI today. 

"The COVID-19 cases are rising, but hospitalization and deaths are still less," said sources.

"We review the data every week, but there is no need to panic at all because hospitalization hasn't increased and no new variant has been found so far," added sources. 

INSACOG will release its bulletin regarding the presence of Omicron sub-lineages soon.

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.

INSACOG is jointly initiated by the Union Health Ministry of Health and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

"COVID-19 is a cyclical viral disease like many others. Immunity from infection is short-lived for coronaviruses, unlike measles or chicken pox viruses. Newer Omicron sub-lineages are especially capable of leaping past the immunity generated by older versions of the same variant," said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-Chairman of National Indian Medical Association's COVID-19 task force.
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