Pakistan’s first Omicron case; Infected woman was not vaccinated

Pakistani health authorities have confirmed the detection of the country’s first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

As being reported, 57-year-old woman in Karachi who got infected of omicron virus had not inoculated COVID-19 vaccine.

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) confirmed the detection of the Omicron variant a day ago.

“The National Institute of Health, Islamabad has been able to confirm that a recently suspected sample from Karachi is indeed the ‘Omicron variant’ of SARS-CoV2. This is the first confirmed case but continued surveillance of identified samples is in place to identify trends,” NCOC notified.

On the other hand, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Noshin Hamid while making an appearance on 92 News program “Subh Sawery Pakistan”, said that the affected woman has recovered after three days of treatment. After completing first dose of vaccination, booster vaccine was also inoculated.

She said that only the vaccine can protect against the virus, the symptoms of Omicron are slightly different from other variants.

A person who suffers from Omicron feels more weakness, she explained.

Furthermore, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has also confirmed the presence of the Omicron variant after gene sequencing.

“Gene sequencing at AKUH has confirmed the presence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the first patient. The patient is at home and doing well.”

It added that no other patients with the Omicron variant have been identified at AKUH.

Last week, Sindh health minister revealed of a suspected case of the new strain in an unvaccinated person.

“The virus also spreads because people are not vaccinated, and this lady, too, was not vaccinated,” said Dr Azra Pechucho, the minister, in a statement last week.

“This is why I would request that you must get your second dose if you haven’t [gotten it] and if you have had both doses and it has been six months, then definitely get your booster dose today. This can save you.”

Omicron variant of coronavirus that has spread to over 60 countries around the world, triggering travel restrictions.