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Hyderabad reports India’s first case of BA.4 Omicron

As per the latest reports, India has witnessed its first case of the BA.4 Omicron variant which was reported in Hyderabad.

An individual with the BA4 Omicron variant was identified by geneticists in Hyderabad on May 9 from a sample collected from the Covid positive individual. Omicron variants BA4 and BA5 have been linked to the fifth Covid wave in South Africa, as well as the new wave of infections in the US and Europe. Omicron BA4 has been reported for the first time in India.

Earlier this month, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDPC), which strengthens Europe’s defences against infectious diseases, declared BA4 and BA5 Omicron variants as Variants of Concern (VoC).

“For these variants, there is clear evidence that they have a significant impact on transmissibility, severity, and/or immunity, which may have an impact on the epidemiological situation in the EU/EEA,” the ECDPC said, referring to BA.4 and BA.5.

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Various variants of Omicron have been reported by South African health officials since January and February. These two variants have been largely responsible for triggering a fresh wave of Covid outbreaks in South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, and countries in Europe, including Germany, Denmark, etc.

Reports from research institutions indicate that the BA4 and BA5 sub-variants are quite different from the original Omicron because they are able to evade immunity generated by previous infections.

Many countries now have the new Omicron variants (BA4 and BA5) in place of the BA2 variant, which was the active circulating virus. Telangana and other Indian states are dominated by the BA2 variant.

Officials here have stated that the impact of the BA4 variant could only be felt in a couple of weeks when they are able to compare its growth advantage with the BA2 variant.

 

 

 

 

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