DHAKA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh has reported scores of COVID-19 cases traced to the BA.2 Omicron sub-variant, which appears to be more infectious than the original BA.1 variant.
The country's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) under the Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed identification of BA.2 Omicron sub-lineage cases.
ASM Alamgir, principal scientific officer of the IEDCR, told Xinhua that BA.2 Omicron sub-variant is currently the most active variant in Bangladesh.
Out of 148 samples tested between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, he said, 118 were Omicron (80 percent) and 30 Delta (20 percent). Among all, Omicron BA.1 (39 percent) and Omicron BA.2 (41 percent) were the most prominent lineages. They have also identified Delta AY.131 (18 percent) and other Deltas (2 percent).
He said Omicron BA.2 (79 percent) became the dominant lineage in the second half of January 2022.
Also on Thursday, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in Dhaka said 82 percent of those who tested COVID-19 positive in three weeks from Jan. 19 to Feb. 9 were infected with the Omicron variant.
Professor Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, vice chancellor of the BSMMU, shared the study findings at an event, saying "at this time sub-variants of Omicron BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 have been observed more."
Quoting the World Health Organization, he said "BA.2 is highly contagious." ■