Following reports about detection of five “delta” variant Covid-19 cases in Mon district, deputy commissioner (DC) Thavaseelan K has clarified that the report from ICMR Dibrugarh was based on partial genome sequencing.
He said samples from Mon district were sent to Tuensang BSL lab-2 and ICMR’s Regional Medical Research Centre, Northeast (RMRCNE), Dibrugarh for testing.
Since some samples were sent to Dibrugarh, it was during this time that authorities at Dibrugarh had asked whether a viral sequencing of some samples should be conducted.
“We agreed to it since we wanted to know whether the samples from Mon district had any kind of variant so that we could strategize better,” he added.
DC said the report from RMRCNE on June 10 had stated that five of the samples had tested positive for delta variant (B.1.617.2 lineage), based on target-spike gene sequencing.
He however claimed that it was just a partial report and that the actual report would be soon known from the designated lab.
On June 14, health & family welfare principal director Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao had informed Nagaland Post that ICMR officials from Kolkata had recently visited Kohima and collected 98 samples for genome sequencing. Dr Khimiao, however, said that they were yet to receive the report.