Omicron (BA.2) is a dominant COVID-19 variant in Nepal, 82 percent of COVID-19 patients found infected

KATHMANDU, Feb 10: A recent gene sequencing of swab samples of COVID-19 patients in Nepal has shown that as many as 82 percent of infected one are infected with Omicron (BA.2) variant of COVID-19.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP)had sent 95 swab samples collected between January 4 to 22 to India for gene sequencing. 

“The results show that of the total sample, 82 percent were infected with the Omicron variant,” said Sangita Mishra, spokesperson for the Health Ministry.

Since its emergence in late 2021, Omicron (or BA.1) has quickly become the dominant variant of the COVID-19 virus in the world.

Another subgroup of the Omicron variant, known as BA.2, which was first identified in India and South Africa in late December 2021, is now active in the US and Europe. The subvariant is thought to have 20 additional mutations on its spike protein compared with BA.1, though scientists are not quite sure what this will mean for the course of the pandemic. So far, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether BA.2 causes more severe illness than BA.1.