Patients had symptoms like headache, fever and muscle pain. (Representative)
New Delhi:
A new strain of COVID-19 has been found in Israel. The unknown variant was detected in two people who had traveled abroad, Israeli newspapers reported. Haaretz Citing the Israel Ministry of Health.
The new variant of the virus is a combination of the BA.1 (Omicron) and BA.2 variants. Two passengers infected with this variant landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport and tested positive after PCR testing. Reports said that their samples were sent for sequencing.
The report quoted the ministry as saying that the patients had symptoms such as headache, fever and muscle pain.
According to Professor Salman Zarka, their link up is not uncommon when both variants are contracted together. He said that this phenomenon occurs when two viruses are in the same cell. The professor said that they exchange genetic material when they multiply, resulting in a new form of the virus.
Salman Zarka shared that the two patients were a couple in their thirties and had contracted the infection from their newborn son.
it comes when India is witnessing a rise in Covid cases, Especially in the six states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Taking note of this surge, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to six states, urging them to focus on testing, treatment, tracking and vaccination.
“There are some states which are reporting higher number of cases indicating possible local spread of infection and without losing the gains made so far in the fight, follow a risk assessment-based approach to contain and contain the infection need to. Against the pandemic,” read the letter.
According to the Union Health Ministry, over 700 Covid cases were reported in a day after a gap of over four months. This increased the number of active cases to 4,623.