Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
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The Omicron COVID-19 variant has been detected in 41 samples tested by the Sri Jayewardenepura University laboratory, the University yesterday said.
The total number of cases with the Omicron variant detected by the Sri Jayewardenepura University is 45. On 22 December, Medical Research Institute Consultant Virologist Dr. Jude Jayamaha said three Omicron cases had been detected by their laboratory.
“Going into 2022: We have plenty of mitigation measures against Omicron: Booster dose as a priority to prevent severe disease,” Dr. Chandima Jeewandara of the Sri Jayewardenepura University’s Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine tweeted yesterday.
He added: We are equipped. Please use the booster vaccine to protect you and your loved ones!
Dr. Jeewandara also said that the booster dose could slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
According to the Sri Jayewardenepura University, 176 samples were sequenced from 14 December to 23 December. These were community samples as well as arrival and departure samples from the airport.
Of the samples, 41 were of the Omicron variant. “While most of these samples were from BIA, some were from MOH Minuwangoda, MOH Mahara, CMC and Colombo,” the laboratory report states.
The AY.28 sub-lineage was detected in 19 samples collected from Divulapitiya, Giriulla, Colombo, Gampaha, Matara and Mirigama and the AY.104 sub-lineage was detected in samples from Batticaloa, Colombo, Puwakpitiya, Divulapitiya, Galle, Gampaha, Ja-Ela, Ahungalla, Kitulgala, Matara, Madampe, Baddegama and Thammitta. Both of these are the Sri Lankan Delta sub-lineages.
In addition to this, the AY.106 sub-lineage was detected in a sample from Negombo, the AY.120 sub-lineage was detected in a sample from Nilpathagama, the AY.122 sub-lineage was detected in samples from Kandy and Udugampola and the AY.127 sub-lineage was detected in a sample from Galle.
The AY.1.617.2 sub-lineage was detected in samples from Avissawella, Minwangoda, Divulapitiya, Dompe, Kandy, Kuruwita, Colombo and Negombo, while the AY.43 sub-lineage was detected in samples from Galle and Chilaw.
