Omicron’s Sibling BA.1 Replaces Delta to Become Dominant Strain Pushing Up India’s Tally: INSACOG

The Omicron variant’s sub lineage, BA.1, is dominantly circulating and replacing Delta in Maharashtra and some other countries, according to scientists at the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). The INSACOG is working on genome sequencing of Covid-positive samples, which has led to the observation that Omicron’s stock BA.1 is decreasingly present in infected cases.

“ In some sequencing run of clinical samples, we get to see the presence of further BA.1sub-lineage now than the original Omicron strain,” a elderly scientist was quoted by the Times of India as saying. Since thesub-lineage belongs to the same family, the samples are considered as Omicron-positive, he said Omicron also has two othersub-lineages – BA.2 and BA.3. Still, according to another INSACOG virologist involved in sequencing, the presence of BA.2 is far too low and and BA.3 has not been linked yet in India.

The variant is largely transmittable and is the driving force for the rapid-fire swell of Covid-19 cases in the country. Cases have shown mild illness and fairly lower need for hospitalization The INSACOG has been involved in genome surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 across the country and through sequencing of samples from guard spots. It puts out detailed quarter analysis for some countries including Maharashtra and Kerala.

The individual delicacy of the extensively- used RT-PCR tests haven’t been impacted by the new variant, meaning Omicron and itssub-lineages can be detected from the standard RT-PCR tests or antigen accoutrements. Still, sifting probable Omicron cases from the diurnal positive cases using the RT-PCR-S-gene target system can not be completely reckoned upon as available substantiation shows that the BA.2sub-lineage can not be picked up using these RT-PCR-SGTF accoutrements.

A Union Health Ministry functionary had said that according to the WHO, the BA.1sub-lineage of Omicron variant accounts for 99 of sequences, and overall, over 95 of the variant sequences reported include a 69-70 omission in the S gene in utmost countries reporting an Omicron-fuelled swell.