Indian Covid-19 variant found in three more people
The three infected persons have been kept in institutional quarantine in Jashore and Narail after returning from India
The Indian variant of Covid-19 has been detected in three more Bangladeshis who returned from the neighbouring country.
The presence of the Indian variant was confirmed after conducting genome sequencing on the samples collected from them at the genome centre of Jashore Science and Technology University on Tuesday, Professor Dr Iqbal Kabir Zahid, assistant director of the genome centre, told The Business Standard today.
The three infected persons have been kept in institutional quarantine in Jashore and Narail. They tested positive for the viral disease after testing their samples collected from two of them on 12 May in Jashore Sadar Hospital and from another one in Narail on 16 May.
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According to the World Health Organisation, the Indian variant has already spread to 60 countries across the world. Although it is not a variant of double mutant, it is still a concerning one, he added.
"Now, those who are returning from India can carry any Indian variant. That is why we are trying to confirm the variant if any sample's test result comes positive. Such a patient should not be released unless he tests negative," Dr Iqbal said.
"Also, we need to complete vaccination quickly. Then, the risk of infection will be less."
Earlier on Monday, the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) announced that the Indian variant was found in six Covid-19 patients in Bangladesh.
