COVID-19 Updates: Indore Man Tests Positive For BA.2.86 Sub-variant

Indore: A 52-year-old man has tested positive for BA.2.86 sub-variant of COVID-19 in Indore, a senior official of a private hospital where his swab sample was initially tested said on Thursday (January 11). Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAMS) Managing Director Mehak Bhandari said the man was found infected with the BA.2.86 sub-variant (pirola) of coronavirus during genome sequencing test of his sample in the institute’s laboratory. Genomic sequencing is a laboratory test that can map out the whole genetic makeup of a virus from a patient’s swab sample.

The Omicron sub-variant was first detected in Europe last year.

Ms Bhandari said the patient, quarantined at home, has a fever and his family members have been kept in isolation and are being treated.

Also Read: Indian Institute of Science Professor, Collaborators Develop Potential Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate

The official said the patient’s swab sample has been sent to the Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore, which on its part will deliver it to the All India Institute of Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal, for detailed examination.

Maharashtra on Wednesday (January 10) reported 98 fresh COVID-19 cases and two fatalities, the health department said.

At 47, Mumbai circle logged the highest number of infections, followed by 24 in Pune circle, 12 in Nashik circle, and six in Nagpur, while four cases each were reported from Kolhapur and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.

Pune and Ahmednagar reported one fatality each due to COVID-19.

Maharashtra has so far reported 250 cases of JN.1 sub-variant with Pune topping the tally.

Also Read: COVID-19 Updates: India Logs More than 600 Fresh Cases, Four Deaths

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.