Pakistan reports first ‘suspected case’ of Omicron variant in Karachi

Pakistan reported its first “suspected” case of the new coronavirus variant Omicron in a woman in Karachi on Wednesday, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho confirmed but added that a genomic study was being carried out for confirmation.

Read more: Omicron threat looms over Sindh, experts urge caution

“The genomic study of the coronavirus patient’s sample had not been conducted, but the way the virus is behaving, we suspect it is Omicron,” she said in a video message on Twitter and added that the patient is 57 years old.

“Omicron transmits quickly, but as per the reports coming from South Africa, it is not causing deaths or serious illnesses. There is no need to get worried. We are conducting a genomic study which will take one or two weeks.”

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Karachi (08-12-21): Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, Dr. @AzraPechuho's statement on the suspected case of Omicron. A genomic study is being conducted which will confirm the exact variant but for now getting both doses of the vaccine is the best precaution. pic.twitter.com/24wi7MwXlR

— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) December 9, 2021

Dr Pechuho said that it would be confirmed whether the woman was infected with the Omicron variant once the study was completed.

The provincial health minister said that a genomic study was being conducted which would confirm the exact variant but for now, getting both doses of the vaccine was the best precaution.

“The virus also spreads because people are not vaccinated. This woman was not vaccinated either. I am urging you to get the second dose, and if you are fully vaccinated, get the booster dose. It can protect you,” she stressed.

“An illness is an illness. But to protect yourself from this virus, it is important that you get yourself vaccinated.”

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad also issued a statement on Thursday which read, “To clarify, the sample is not yet confirmed to be Omicron via whole genome sequencing, which is to be performed after obtaining the sample.”

Important Message from NIH Islamabad
This is in response to media reports of a suspected case of Omicron variant being reported from Karachi. To clarify, the sample is not yet confirmed to be Omicron via whole genome sequencing, which is to be performed after obtaining the sample

— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) December 9, 2021

Earlier in the day, Bol News quoted the Sindh health department as saying in a statement that the first Omicron case was detected in a woman from Karachi.

“The infected woman has recently arrived from abroad and was unvaccinated. A private hospital in Karachi, where she was being treated, confirmed on December 8 that she was Covid positive. She was later discharged from the hospital and is currently isolated at home in Karachi’s East district,” said Bol News in its report and added that the deputy commissioner of the East district had been requested micro smart lockdown by the provincial health department

Pakistan recently imposed travel restrictions on 15 countries, including six African and some European countries, under safety preemptive measures amid a rise in Omicron cases worldwide.

Omicron and global concern

The detection of the first Omicron cases last month coincided with surges in infection numbers across the world, and the variant added fuel to concerns about a global Covid resurgence.

Top scientists from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United States claimed that the Omicron variant appears to be no worse than other coronavirus strains while cautioning that more research is needed to judge its severity.

Read more: Pakistan restricts travel from eight more countries

While it is likely more transmissible than previous variants, Omicron is also “highly unlikely” to completely evade vaccine protections, said the WHO.