Omicron sweeps across Odisha as 75% samples show strain

BHUBANESWAR: More than 75%

Covid

positive samples — 32 out of 42 — analysed in the state on Saturday returned positive for Omicron. Experts said this is a big indication that the new variant is gradually replacing Delta.

Ajay

Parida

, director, Institute of Life Sciences, where the genome sequencing was done, said the samples were of Covid positive students of VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Vimsar), Sambalpur, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) Bhubaneswar, besides doctors or staff members of some other hospitals. Fifteen of the 18 positive samples from

Vimsar

and six out of nine samples from

NISER

were found positive for Omicron.

Parida said samples from sites of cluster infections are largely turning out to be Omicron. More than 50 students and doctors of Vimsar and over 30 students from NISER had tested positive for Covid last week.

From the samples analysed and from the clinical manifestations of Covid cases, doctors believe Omicron is becoming the dominant strain.

Most of the Covid patients these days have mild symptoms and getting cured very early, which are presumed to be due to Omicron. This, and the high percentage of Omicron among samples sent for genome sequencing, indicate the new variant is gradually taking over," said Sadhu Charan Panda, a professor of community medicine at Vimsar.

Ashok Mahapatra, vice-chancellor at SOA University, said the sample size is too small to draw a definite conclusion and generalise findings of all Covid cases, though there's a hint of Omicron dominance. "More samples are needed to be tested for Omicron," Mahapatra said.

"Irrespective of whether it is Omicron or Delta, people have no reason to panic or become lax. We must continue to stick to Covid-appropriate behaviour and take vaccines," he added.

With the 32 new cases, confirmed Omicron infections in the state rose to 202. The ILS had analysed genomes of 263 samples of those who tested positive between December 29 and January 8.


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