Omicron subspecies found in Nepal

 A subspecies of Omicron variant 'BA Five' has been confirmed in Nepal.

A genetic test conducted by Dhulikhel Hospital has found a subspecies of Omicron. Center for Health and Disease Studies Head Prof Dr Rajiv Shrestha confirmed that ‘BA Five’ subspecies was found by looking at the samples collected from other laboratories through gene sequencing.

‘Looking at a sample from another laboratory through gene sequencing, a subspecies of Omicron has been found,’ said Dr Shrestha. 

The hospital said no further information was available as samples were collected from other laboratories. Coronavirus infection rates are rising again in some parts of the world due to two new subspecies of the Omicron variant.

The BA. 4 and BA. 5 subspecies, which originated in South Africa, are spreading more to countries in Europe, and United States. 

Omicron's subspecies 'BA Five' is said to spread faster than other variants. 

Similarly, infectious disease specialist Dr Anup Subedi says that there is a great possibility of re-infection. However, it is not clear whether Omicron's BA Five is more or less lethal than other species.

"The number of infected people is increasing every week,' he said. "However, it is difficult to say how much risk Omicron's BA Five brings," says Subedi.

According to Runa Jha, the report on gene sequencing will come on Monday (tomorrow). ‘Omicron has been seen in gene sequencing we did two weeks ago,’ said Dr. Jha said, ‘Gene sequencing of the last stage case is going on. This will further confirm which variant is responsible for the increase in infection.