First case of Indian coronavirus variant found in Pakistan

A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Health, said in a statement that the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad shared results of whole-genome sequencing of SARS CoV-2 samples collected during the first three weeks of May 2021.

"The sequencing results confirmed detection of seven cases of B.1.351 (South African variant) and one case of B.1.617.2 (Indian variant). This is the first in-country detection of the latter strain," ​​the statement said.

The health ministry said this was the first case of its kind in Pakistan.

Ministry further said that according to the protocols, the field epidemiology and disease surveillance division and the district health administration of Islamabad are conducting contact tracing of all positive cases.

He said that following the continuous reports of strains emerging globally, the need for guidelines, use of masks and vaccination is becoming apparent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this month named B.1.617.2 (Indian variant) a globally worrying variant.

To prevent the spread of the B.1.617 variant in Pakistan, the NCOC had last month placed India in the category C list, banning entry of passengers from the country through air and land routes.

The WHO had said that B.1.617.2 was first reported in India last year while the first type of identification was made in October 2020.

The virus later spread to other countries and several governments around the world restricted movement with India.