POKHARA, July 11: Delta variant of COVID-19 has been found in Syangja and Gorkha districts, according to the Gandaki Provincial Health Directorate.
The Delta variant has been confirmed in five samples sent from the Provincial Public Health Laboratory to the National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu on June 14 for testing of new variants.
Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 detected in Nuwakot
According to Nabaraj Sharma, coordinator of the Gandaki Provincial Health Emergency Operations Center, two males aged 14 and 60 from Kaligandaki Rural Municipality in Syangja and three women aged 33, 40 and 70 from Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality in Gorkha have been diagnosed with the Delta (B1.617.2) variant of COVID-19. He said the virus would be more contagious than previous alpha variants, so he urged people to be more cautious.
According to Sharma, the sample was sent from the provincial level to Kathmandu and also from Kathmandu to an international laboratory for testing. "Samples were tested to assess the growing incidence of infection in the community in the district and the possibility of a new variant," Sharma said. “The new variant was found as suspected.”
Efforts are being made to identify the health status of the infected people, Sharma said. “Of course, we tested the sample a month ago. It took time for the report to come as it had to be tested at an international laboratory. But a new variant has been confirmed in the district,” he said. Earlier, Barpak of Gorakha was at risk due to the infection.
