India records BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron in fully vaccinated people with no travel history
As Covid-19 variants continue to multiply month after month, it appears that we will have to live with coronavirus for the rest of our lives. Not only are new variants emerging, but their sub-variants too. Recently, India has reported the first case of BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron.
According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG), the first case of the BA.5 sub-variant of Omicron has been confirmed in an 80-year-old man from Telangana.
Did he travel overseas?- The report states that he has no history of international travel.
Vaccination- Fully vaccinated
Symptoms- Moderate Clinical Signs
Earlier, India also reported one case of BA.4. The sub-variant was reported in a 19-year-old girl from Tamil Nadu.
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Did she travel overseas?- The report states that she has no history of international travel.
Vaccination- Fully Vaccinated
Symptoms- Minimal clinical symptoms
India also reported BA.4 variant in a South African traveller and was tested positive at Hyderabad airport during sampling.
BA.4 and BA.5 variants
The fifth wave of Covid-19 cases in South Africa was caused by Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Since then, it has been identified in various European nations as well as the United States. The BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron have been designated as variants of concern by the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although the variations caused a spike in South Africa, there was no rise in hospitalizations or deaths. Experts predict that because of the hybrid immunity acquired by vaccination and earlier infection, including with the BA.1 and BA.2 sub-variants of Omicron during the third wave of Covid-19 infections, India will not witness a rise in mortality with the present variant.
Active Covid Cases in India
On Sunday, India reported 2,226 new Covid-19 cases and 63 fresh fatalities. According to the Union Health Ministry, the country has 14,955 active cases.
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