BA-5 is the fastest spreading subspecies of COVID-19 so far

Published On: July 12, 2022 12:20 PM NPT By: Pabitra Sunar

KATHMANDU, July 12: The coronavirus infection has been on the rise in Nepal for the past two weeks. Out of 3,020 samples tested in the last 24 hours, the virus was confirmed in 168. Of the 3,045 samples tested on Sunday, 121 were confirmed coronavirus positive, 102 were infected on Saturday and 98 were confirmed positive on Friday.

Currently, the total number of active infected people in Nepal is 770. Of them, 749 are in home isolation and 21 in institutional isolation. Twelve people with serious problems are being treated in ICUs and one has been put on a ventilator.

Joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Samir Kumar Adhikari, said that the daily increase in the coronavirus infection is likely to increase. He appealed to all to implement public health standards and to avoid crowds as it could increase the infections further. “The risk has increased, many may be infected,” he said. He said the government has been intensifying the campaign to vaccinate those who have not been vaccinated and those who have not received a booster dose since the beginning of the outbreak of the infection. He said that despite tight testing and surveillance at the border, re-infection of corona from other mediums is spreading rapidly.

It has been confirmed that the sub-species of Omicron species spreading in Nepal is BA-5. Gene sequencing by the National Public Health Laboratory and Dhulikhel Hospital has confirmed this. During the gene sequencing of 30 samples collected by the laboratory from the same province, BA-5 was tested in two samples and in one sample in Dhulikhel. BA-5 has come to Nepal as it has been certified in Gene Sequencing, said Dr Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Information Officer, National Public Health Laboratory.

As it has been confirmed by gene sequencing and is now spreading rapidly, BA-5 is now spreading in Nepal, said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, coordinator of the research department of Sukraraj Tropical and Communicable Diseases Hospital. This subspecies has been identified by medical scientists at the policy-making level as the fastest-spreading subspecies so far. According to Dr Pun, even though it has spread rapidly, it has not been found to have the kind of impact like the delta and other species seen earlier.