In the midst of the rising COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra and the detection of sub-lineages of the Omicron variant, reports mention that the state health department has told all the civic corporations of 36 districts to commence genome sequencing of sewage water to assess variants of coronavirus.
Based on accounts, in accordance with the recent genome sequencing report published by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), 89 per cent of the city's samples were detected with BA.2 and BA.2.38, both of which are sub-variants of the Omicron.
According to narratives, sewage surveillance helps in the early detection of any impending COVID-19 wave. Moreover, it also assists in keeping a check on the emergence of new variants of coronavirus. If it is found, local public health actions can be initiated.
It has been reported that the civic body undertook genome sequencing of 364 samples at the Kasturba Laboratory between June 1 and 18. Herein it was revealed that 49 per cent were infected with BA.2.38 variant, while 40 per cent were infected with the BA.2 variant. Likewise, 5 per cent had the BA.5 variant and 2 per cent had the BA.4 variant.
Officials from the state health department have been quoted in reports elaborating on how they have been closely monitoring the cases and have told districts to conduct genome sequencing of sewage water to ascertain new variants after the surge.
Experts claim that the virus can be detected in human excreta, thus, the genome sequencing of sewage water samples will assist in finding the presence of COVID-19 early in an area.
On Sunday, June 26, Mumbai logged an aggregate of 2,771 new coronavirus cases. This is stated to be the highest single-day number registered since January.
Owing to these updates in numbers, the aggregate tally of the novel virus has risen to 11,07,371. Similarly, on Sunday, Maharashtra registered a total of 6,493 COVID-19 cases that entailed a backlog from Saturday.
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