The genomic sequencing conducted on 42 swab specimens in Nepal found that 97.6 per cent had been infected with Delta variants while the remaining 2.4 per cent with Alpha variants.
National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and the Central Department of Biotechnology, Tribhuvan University (TU) separately conducted the genomic sequencing on 42 swab specimens collected from COVID-19 patients.
Of the total of 42 specimens of swab collected for the study separately carried out by the lab and TU, 41 specimens showed the detection of Delta variant while alpha variant was detected in one specimen, Laboratory Director Dr Runa Jha said. She informed that NPHL studied 26 specimens of swab while the TU studied 16 others.
The 41 samples were collected two months ago except for one that had been collected between April and May.
The laboratory was technically supported by the World Health Organisation while the TU was assisted by the Washington University, to carry out the study of the COVID-19 variants.
Now, Nepal has the facility to conduct genomic sequencing of infectious diseases.
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