Pakistan’s health ministry has reported the detection of the first case of the Indian variant of coronavirus.
The Indian variant case was detected by the National Institute of Health which conducted whole-genome sequencing of SARS CoV-2 samples collected during the first three weeks of May 2021, Pakistan’s health ministry reported in a statement.
"The sequencing results confirmed [the] detection of seven cases of South African variant) and one case of Indian variant," the statement said, adding that this was the first in-country detection of the Indian strain.
The statement further said in accordance with protocols, the contact tracing of all the cases was in progress by the Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division and the Islamabad district health officer.
To prevent the spread of the Indian variant in Pakistan, the country had last month placed India in the category C list, banning entry of passengers from the country through air and land routes. Authorities in Pakistan also have urged the public to adhere to Covid standard operating procedures and get vaccinated, citing the havoc wreaked by the virus in India.
The Indian variant is considered more transmissible and the World Health Organisation (WHO) had earlier this month classified it as a variant of global concern.
The Indian variant case was detected by the National Institute of Health which conducted whole-genome sequencing of SARS CoV-2 samples collected during the first three weeks of May 2021, Pakistan’s health ministry reported in a statement.
"The sequencing results confirmed [the] detection of seven cases of South African variant) and one case of Indian variant," the statement said, adding that this was the first in-country detection of the Indian strain.
The statement further said in accordance with protocols, the contact tracing of all the cases was in progress by the Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division and the Islamabad district health officer.
To prevent the spread of the Indian variant in Pakistan, the country had last month placed India in the category C list, banning entry of passengers from the country through air and land routes. Authorities in Pakistan also have urged the public to adhere to Covid standard operating procedures and get vaccinated, citing the havoc wreaked by the virus in India.
The Indian variant is considered more transmissible and the World Health Organisation (WHO) had earlier this month classified it as a variant of global concern.
