<p> In what may trigger concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, B.A. 4 and 5 variants have been reported in Maharashtra for the first time.</p>.<p>The B. A. 4 and 5 are of the Omicron sub lineage, which increases the rate of transmission of the virus to certain extent, according to international experience.</p>.<p>All the seven patients are based in Pune, according to reports.</p>.<p>The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the Public Health Department confirmed the development. </p>.<p>According to the latest report of the Whole Genomic Sequencing (WGS) conducted in coordination with the B J Medical College, Pune, 4 patients of B.A. 4 variants and 3 patients of B.A. 5 variants have been found in Pune.</p>.<p>The new variant has been identified in a WGS conducted by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Bhopal and has been confirmed by the Indian Biological Data Center (IBDC) in Faridabad.</p>.<p>“All of them had mild symptoms of Covid. No one needed to be hospitalised and treated successfully in-home isolation,” officials of the Public Health Department said. </p>.<p>“There is nothing to worry at this stage,” says Dr IS Gilada, Secretary General, Organized Medicine Academic Guild (OMAG).</p>.<p>The IDSP, while sharing details, said among the patients, four are males and three are females.</p>.<p>Of them, four are in the age group of more than 50 years and two are in the age group of 20 to 40 years, while one is below 10 years.</p>.<p>“Two of these patients have a history of traveling to South Africa, Belgium, while three have traveled to Kerala and Karnataka. Two patients have no travel history,” an official statement said. </p>.<p>All but one 9-year-old have received both doses of the Covid vaccine, while one has also taken a booster.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the state reported 529 new cases and zero deaths taking the progressive total to 78,85,394 and 1,47,858, respectively. </p>.<p>As of today, there are 2,772 active cases in the state.</p>.<p>Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope had yet again urged people to wear masks and follow Covid-19 protocols.</p>
<p> In what may trigger concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, B.A. 4 and 5 variants have been reported in Maharashtra for the first time.</p>.<p>The B. A. 4 and 5 are of the Omicron sub lineage, which increases the rate of transmission of the virus to certain extent, according to international experience.</p>.<p>All the seven patients are based in Pune, according to reports.</p>.<p>The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the Public Health Department confirmed the development. </p>.<p>According to the latest report of the Whole Genomic Sequencing (WGS) conducted in coordination with the B J Medical College, Pune, 4 patients of B.A. 4 variants and 3 patients of B.A. 5 variants have been found in Pune.</p>.<p>The new variant has been identified in a WGS conducted by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Bhopal and has been confirmed by the Indian Biological Data Center (IBDC) in Faridabad.</p>.<p>“All of them had mild symptoms of Covid. No one needed to be hospitalised and treated successfully in-home isolation,” officials of the Public Health Department said. </p>.<p>“There is nothing to worry at this stage,” says Dr IS Gilada, Secretary General, Organized Medicine Academic Guild (OMAG).</p>.<p>The IDSP, while sharing details, said among the patients, four are males and three are females.</p>.<p>Of them, four are in the age group of more than 50 years and two are in the age group of 20 to 40 years, while one is below 10 years.</p>.<p>“Two of these patients have a history of traveling to South Africa, Belgium, while three have traveled to Kerala and Karnataka. Two patients have no travel history,” an official statement said. </p>.<p>All but one 9-year-old have received both doses of the Covid vaccine, while one has also taken a booster.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the state reported 529 new cases and zero deaths taking the progressive total to 78,85,394 and 1,47,858, respectively. </p>.<p>As of today, there are 2,772 active cases in the state.</p>.<p>Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope had yet again urged people to wear masks and follow Covid-19 protocols.</p>
