Omicron test results of 15 individuals still awaited

Days after Pakistan detected the first suspected case of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron, uncertainty still looms larger over the genome sequencing of the samples as the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) is yet to confirm the variant.

The health department on Thursday sent the samples of the family members suspected of carrying the Omicron variant, along with of those who came in contact with them, for analyses using the full genome sequencing method.

On December 8, four persons in Karachi, including a woman, were confirmed as patients of the Omicron variant without a full genome sequencing test report - a verification that requires a lengthy and complicated procedure.

A preliminary report is expected by Monday.

Earlier, a notification issued from the office of the health officer in Karachi’s East district had said a disease surveillance and response unit had “reported the first case of new Covid-19 Omicron”.

However, the National Institute of Health said the sample “is not yet confirmed to be omicron via whole-genome sequencing, which is to be performed after obtaining the sample.”

“However, in light of the global situation, the public is strongly urged to get vaccinated at the earliest,” the NIH added.

The testing to verify the variant is particularly complicated as the variant is identified only through genome sequencing and through S-gene target failure, according to experts.

The World Health Organization has said the S gene is not present in the Omicron variant. This is the result of the multiple mutations that the variant has undergone and is a marker to identify the variant.

On Thursday, Pakistan detected its first 'suspected' case of the Omicron variant in Karachi, according to the provincial health minister.

The WHO has been in constant touch with the government of Pakistan following the reports of suspected cases of the Omicron variant, while other international and aviation authorities are also keeping an eye on Pakistan.

In case the report comes back positive and the presence of variant is confirmed, travel bans may also be imposed on the country and the government may take strong lockdown measures

On November 26, the WHO named the new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as 'Omicron'. The WHO has classified Omicron as a 'variant of concern'.

Dozens of countries have imposed travel restrictions on the southern African nations since the mutation was discovered.