CU Correspondent :
A joint research by the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Chittagong University (CU) and ICDDRB conducted genome sequencing of 42 samples collected from Covid-19 patients last month and found Indian Delta variant.
In press conference, head of the research team Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan said, “We collected 42 samples from seven Covid-19 detection lab hospitals in Chittagong division and analyzed its variants. Of these, 2 Indian, 3 Nigerian, 4 UK and 33 South African variants were found.”
He further added that neither of the two patients affected by the Indian variant had visited India recently and had not come in contact with any returnee of India. Their samples were collected at the end of May. That is why we think that the community transmission of the Indian variant has started in Chittagong.
CU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Shireen Akter said the purpose of our press conference is to convey the message to the government that the Indian variant is spreading at the community level in Chittagong. Now we need to take appropriate action quickly.
