Staff Reporter :
A research team of Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) has detected a new sub-variant of Omicron Covid-19 virus, BA 4/5.
The scientists have identified the sub-variant in the bodies of two Bangladeshis at the JUST’s genome centre. One of the infected is aged 44 and the other is 79 years old.
The researchers identified the new covid sub-variant through a partial (spike protein) genome sequence of the virus collected from the two infected persons on Tuesday.
One of them received a booster dose of the vaccine and the other took two doses of the vaccine. One of the victims is being treated at the hospital while the other is being treated at home.
Earlier on January 24, the International Diarrhoea Research Institute, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) had disclosed the information that coronavirus’s three subtypes or sub-variants of Omicron are spreading rapidly in the capital city Dhaka.
The number of Covid patients has increased by 23% in the last week in the country as compared to the previous week, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
According to DGHS, Bangladesh has reported one death and 874 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours on Tuesday.
The positivity rate was recorded 11.03 percent during the same period after testing 7,927 samples across the country.
So far, 29,133 people have died and 19,58,074 tested positive of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, 84 Covid patients were cured in the last 24 hours recording the recovery rate at 97.34 percent.
However, after 20 days, Bangladesh reported one death from Covid-19 and 873 new cases in the last 24 hours till 8 am Monday. Earlier on 30 May, one death from the deadly virus was reported.
Also, the positivity rate surged to 10.87 percent during the same period as 8,028 samples were tested across the country, which is the highest in four months. Earlier, on 16 February 12.20% positivity rate was reported.
Moreover, the number of hospital-admitted Covid patients is also increasing.
