Second case of BA.4 Omicron sub-variant in India reported from Tamil Nadu

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, May 21, 2022: Tamil Nadu health minister, Ma Subramanian, in a statement on Saturday, May 21, stated that one case of BA.4 sub-variant of Omicron has been confirmed in the state. This is the second case of the BA.4 sub-variant reported in India.

The person affected by the variant is a resident of Navalur in Chengalpattu district, located 30 kilometres from Chenaia.

On Friday, the first case of the BA.4 sub-variant was recorded in Hyderabad, Telangana.

"After detecting the first case of BA.4, the contact tracing has already been started of those who came in contact with a person who travelled to Hyderabad from South Africa. He was asymptomatic and the sample was collected on May 9," ANI reported, quoting sources.

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) will issue a bulletin on the case on Monday, May 23.

The BA.4 variant was first detected on January 10, 2022 in South Africa. Since then, it has been detected in all South African provinces.

There is no indication that people BA.4 or BA.5 are associated with new symptoms or more severe disease. However, based on scientific studies on these new variants, they may be able to evade the immune system.

Courtesy: India Today