Odisha studies first Omicron dying as lady with new variant succumbs

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Amid the speedy rise in new Covid instances, Odisha on Thursday reported its first Omicron associated dying.

The deceased, a 45-year-old lady from the Balangir district, had succumbed whereas present process remedy at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla on December 27. Her genome sequencing outcome got here on Wednesday.

Sources stated, the lady, a resident of the Agalpur space, was admitted to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir on December 20 after she suffered from a mind stroke.

She was shifted to VIMSAR after her situation deteriorated. She examined constructive for Covid-19 on December 23 and her pattern was despatched to the Institute of Life Sciences at Bhubaneswar for genome sequencing. But earlier than the sequencing outcome got here, she died.

Balangir Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr Snehalata Sahu stated the lady was discovered constructive for Omicron. “But we can not say whether she succumbed to Covid or died of stroke. Further clinical investigation is on,” she stated.

A crew of healthcare staff rushed to the lady’s village on Thursday for contact tracing. Swab samples of her members of the family and different contacts have been collected.

Sources stated although the lady examined constructive for Covid-19 on December 23, her pattern was not instantly despatched for sequencing as she was not a overseas returnee. Her genome sequencing was carried out as a part of surveillance.

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It can also be but to be ascertained whether or not the lady was contaminated earlier than getting admitted in VIMSAR or she contracted the an infection throughout her keep within the hospital the place a few overseas returnees have been present process remedy for Covid.

“If the death is clinically proved due to Covid, it will be the first Omicron related death in the country. The death of a 73-year-old man from Rajasthan is now considered to be the first Omicron related death. He had died on December 31,” sources stated.

Director of Health Services Dr Bijay Mohapatra stated Balangir CDMO has been requested to ship an in depth report mentioning the sequence of occasions and the remedy particulars of the lady. He, nevertheless, confirmed that the lady examined constructive for Omicron. But the reason for dying could be ascertained after a correct audit, he added.

Meanwhile, Odisha reported 1897 new Covid instances, the best single-day spike in over 5 months. The contemporary instances went up by 56 per cent (computer) over the day gone by.

The new infections included 258 of 0-18 years age group. The take a look at positivity charge (TPR) additionally rose to 2.62 computer from 1.8 computer a day earlier than. As many as 72,370 checks have been carried out within the final 24 hours.

Five districts recorded 100 or extra instances pushing the lively instances to 5839. With 669 instances Khurda district contributed round 35 computer of the caseload, adopted by 262 from Sundargarh, 148 from Cuttack, 125 from Sambalpur and 100 from Balasore. 

The Covid tally soared to 10,59,773 of which 10,45,514 have recovered and 8467 succumbed to the illness up to now.

“The cases are now being reported from all districts, which means Omicron has spread its tentacles across the State. Infections will rise further in the coming days. We will step up testing. The ICMR has approved new kits for Omicron testing. The State government will soon get the kits for faster testing,” the Health Director added.