MUMBAI: A new subvariant of Omicron, BA.2.75, has been identified in ten Covid patients in Pune. This second-generation subvariant of BA.2 is said to have a growth advantage over other sublineages, but its impact will be known in the coming weeks, experts said.
While most Covid cases in the state are predominantly being caused by BA.2 and BA.2.38, BA.4 and BA.5 types too are circulating. On Wednesday, Pune's BJ Medical College confirmed six new cases of BA.5 and three of BA.4, taking the overall count of cases caused by these variants to 73. Of these, 34 are in Mumbai, 24 in Pune, four each in Nagpur, Thane and Palghar, and three in Raigad. Meanwhile, BA.2.75 was found in samples collected from June 21-29. Dr Pradeep Awate, state surveillance officer, said all these cases were asymptomatic.
Dr Mangala Gomare, BMC's executive health officer, confirmed that occasional cases of BA.2.74/75/76 have been found in Mumbai. "The last genome sequencing carried out at Kasturba Hospital found the presence of these subvariants. But we haven't found any corresponding rise in cases or hospitalisations due to them," she said. "Cases and hospital admissions have started declining in Mumbai."
