BHUBANESWAR: What can be called the comfort factor on Diwali eve, not a single new strain of the Delta variant covid virus has been found in Orissa out of 1,200 samples genome sequencing From Institute of Life Sciences (ILS).
The ILS said on Wednesday that of the 1,200 samples sequenced in September and October, none presented the new strain found in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. The state health authorities were alerted after the new version of the delta AY-4.2 was detected from MP and Karnataka. Odisha now has the old Delta AY-4 and AY-12 variants.
“The samples sequenced in September and October in our laboratory have not been able to detect the new AY-4.2 version so far. delta virus. In the case of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, we learned that the August samples had detected a new strain of the AY-4.2 variant, Delta. Had it been so contagious, it would have caused havoc in both the states. Therefore, looking at the contagiousness so far, the new strain can be termed as a variant of interest rather than a variant of concern in India,” said Ajay Parida, director, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS).
On August 21, Odisha’s cumulative Covid infections crossed the 10 lakh mark, then became the 10th state in the country to report more than 10 lakh infections. Since then samples for genome sequencing were collected in a phased manner in September and October. The total infection figure in Odisha now stands at 10, 42, 422, which means a little over 42,000 cases have been reported in two and a half months.
“Age 4.2 version has not so far presented itself in Odisha, evident from the fact that Odisha’s daily caseload remains in a certain range with marginal oscillation. This is a positive news for the people of the state. But we cannot be complacent as we do not know when the virus changes its form,” said Dr Jayant Panda, technical advisor to the government on COVID-19.
When the delta version spread in May, June and July, Odisha added one lakh COVID cases in 55 days (between June 27 and August 21). On June 27, the state’s cumulative count had crossed the 9 lakh mark.
On Wednesday, five districts did not report a single infection, while the state reported 322 new cases and three deaths.
The ILS said on Wednesday that of the 1,200 samples sequenced in September and October, none presented the new strain found in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. The state health authorities were alerted after the new version of the delta AY-4.2 was detected from MP and Karnataka. Odisha now has the old Delta AY-4 and AY-12 variants.
“The samples sequenced in September and October in our laboratory have not been able to detect the new AY-4.2 version so far. delta virus. In the case of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, we learned that the August samples had detected a new strain of the AY-4.2 variant, Delta. Had it been so contagious, it would have caused havoc in both the states. Therefore, looking at the contagiousness so far, the new strain can be termed as a variant of interest rather than a variant of concern in India,” said Ajay Parida, director, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS).
On August 21, Odisha’s cumulative Covid infections crossed the 10 lakh mark, then became the 10th state in the country to report more than 10 lakh infections. Since then samples for genome sequencing were collected in a phased manner in September and October. The total infection figure in Odisha now stands at 10, 42, 422, which means a little over 42,000 cases have been reported in two and a half months.
“Age 4.2 version has not so far presented itself in Odisha, evident from the fact that Odisha’s daily caseload remains in a certain range with marginal oscillation. This is a positive news for the people of the state. But we cannot be complacent as we do not know when the virus changes its form,” said Dr Jayant Panda, technical advisor to the government on COVID-19.
When the delta version spread in May, June and July, Odisha added one lakh COVID cases in 55 days (between June 27 and August 21). On June 27, the state’s cumulative count had crossed the 9 lakh mark.
On Wednesday, five districts did not report a single infection, while the state reported 322 new cases and three deaths.
.