Covid 19: 80% samples for genome sequencing positive for Delta variant in Maharashtra

Out of the total samples sent for genome sequencing of Covid 19 patients in Maharashtra, 80 per cent of the samples have tested positive for Delta variant, according to the state health department.

Maharashtra is conducting genome sequencing tests of Covid 19 patients' samples on a regular basis to ascertain the extent of spread of mutants of the virus. According to the state health department, 76 patients have been found to be positive with Delta Plus variant, out of which five have died so far and 71 have recovered. As of now, no patient infected with Delta Plus variant is under treatment.

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To intensify its efforts to identify virus mutants, the Maharashtra health department has selected five laboratories and five hospitals as sentinel centres. Every fortnight, each centre sends 15 samples to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for genome sequencing.

Moreover, an agreement has been signed with a laboratory named the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, which works under the Council of Scientific And Industrial Research (CSIR). This laboratory tests 100 samples of each district of Maharashtra to find if there is any mutant virus is present in any of the samples.

On Monday, the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology found 10 more persons positive with Delta Plus variant. From these, six are from Kolhapur, three from Ratnagiri and one is from Sindhudurg district.

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So far, 13 Delta Plus cases have been registered in Jalgaon, 15 in Ratnagiri, 11 in Mumbai, seven in Kolhapur, six each in Pune and Thane, three each in Palghar and Raigad, two each in Gondia, Sindhudurg and Nanded and one each in Chandrapur, Akola, Sangli, Nandurbar, Aurangabad and Beed.

The state government has formed rapid response teams to detect Delta Plus patients. They check patients' travel history and vaccination details. They also survey for flu-like symptoms in people.

-PTC News with inputs from ANI