1st case of Omicron sub-variant BF.7 detected in BD

Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh has detected the first case of new sub-variant of coronavirus, BF.7 in one Chinese national, who has been kept on quarantine.
After testing the sample’s genome sequence of the Chinese national, Dr Tahmina Shireen, Director of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), confirmed the matter on Sunday.
“The highly contagious new Omicron sub-variant of coronavirus, BF.7 has been detected in the country,” Dr. Tahmina said. The presence of a new variant was found in the genome sequence reports of one of the four Covid-19 infected Chinese citizens who travelled in Bangladesh from China recently.
As per the sources of the health department, four Chinese citizens who came from China to Bangladesh were sent to isolation after detection with Covid-19 during health screening at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday.
“Coronavirus infection was detected in the Chinese nationals through the antigen test,” Dr. Tahmina said.
She said that the four Chinese nationals had been sent to Mohakhali DNCC Hospital for isolation.
Their samples were sent to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) for genome sequencing, the result of which was pending on that time.
Meanwhile, DGHS Director Professor Najmul Islam said that they were not worried at the detection of Omicron sub-variant case in the country.
“We don’t want anyone to get panicked as our positivity rate is now below one percent. But we have taken the matter seriously and trying to prevent its spread,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said that they were closely monitoring the situation and testing those regularly who are returning to the country from the affected countries.
Sources said that the emergence of new sub-variant Omicron BF.7 is most likely responsible for the current surge of Covid infection in China, India and other countries which is more transmissible, said the DGHS.
The DGHS has instructed the authorities concerned to strengthen surveillance and screening of people coming to Bangladesh from countries including China, India, Japan, South Korea, USA, France, Brazil and Germany to contain the spreading of the sub-variant.