India reports first cases of BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Covid-19

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) on Sunday confirmed the first case of BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Covid-19 in India. 

All the patients showed only mild clinical symptoms, the INSACOG said in a statement.

It said a 19-year-old woman in Tamil Nadu was found infected with the BA.4 variant. 

She has no travel history. Before this, a South African traveller was also reported positive for the BA.4 variant on his arrival at Hyderabad airport.

The BA.5 variant was detected in an 80-year-old man in Telangana. He, too, has no travel history.

The Consortium said contact tracing of the three patients is being undertaken as a precautionary measure.

The BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Covid-19 was first reported in South Africa earlier this year. 

These variants have not been associated with disease severity or increased hospitalisation, the INSACOG said.