Tamil Nadu: First case of COVID BA.4 variant reported

While the State Public Health Laboratory, Chennai confirmed it, the result from other laboratories under the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) is awaited.

The sample of 19-year-old female from a family of four, including father, mother, daughter and grandmother residing in a gated community at Navalur, OMR coming under Chengalpet district had the BA.4 subvariant.

Three of them, including the two positive persons, are fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine, while the grandmother had taken one dose of vaccine.

The initial symptoms of flu-like illness were reported in a 45-year-old mother and 19-year-old daughter on May 4, 2022, and were tested positive for COVID-19.

They were self-isolated in their house and recovered within three days of their illness.

Though there was no travel history, their samples were sent to State Public Health Laboratory and to NEERI, Nagpur for sequencing.

As per the reports obtained on Thursday, both were caused by Omicron variant of SARS COV-2 only in which the mother had BA.2 sub-lineage and the daughter had BA.4 variant, Health Minister Ma.Subramanian and Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan told reporters here today.

Dr Radhakrishnan, who visited the family said they are doing well.

There were no new cases reported in their community and close contacts.

Subramanian said the identification of the BA.4 Omicron Sub-variant is not a cause of any concern.

It is more a reminder to continue the focus on eligible persons getting completely vaccinated and the need to continue to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in public places crowded areas.