Noted epidemiologist Dr Naresh Purohit suggests anti-Omicron measures
Pune, Dec 1 : To tackle the new COVID variant Omicron, a slew of stringent precautionary measures need to be implemented, asserted National Communicable Disease Control Programme Advisor Dr Naresh Purohit Today.
Talking to UNI, epidemiologist Dr Purohit suggested, “All inbound international travellers found with the symptoms of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) should be screened for S gene drop out using the Thermo Taqpath kit.”
“As per World Health Organisation guidelines, diagnostic test kits with two confirmatory gene target, with at least one being the ‘S’ gene, should be used for early detection of the Omicron variant of Covid,” he explained.
He further said, “As the ‘S’ gene target failure (SGTF) is indicated for Omicron. RT-PCR laboratories testing samples of international passengers should use kits that will detect the ‘S’ gene dropout. This may lead to efficient detection of the Omicron variant of Covid. Such kits can be used as proxy tests for the Omicron variant pending sequencing confirmation.”
Principal Investigator for National Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme Dr Purohit told, “The laboratories should prioritize specimens with SGTF (no detection for the ‘S’ gene and detection for other gene targets) for genomic sequencing and confirmation of the Omicron.”
“Omicron is one more reminder that the pandemic is not yet over and has not even taken a pause.
There are uncertainties connected with Omicron posing a serious challenge for our country, national health systems and the public,” he added.
He advised, “At the individual level, the best way to deal with the uncertainty is to focus on measures that reduce or minimise the risk of Covid-19, like wearing masks, hand hygiene and physical distancing. Other steps like improving the ventilation of indoor spaces and avoiding crowded spaces can also reduce the risk.”
He pointed out, “In the past few months, complacency had set in and people are either not wearing masks or wearing them incorrectly. Large social, religious and political gatherings are being held everywhere with no social distancing.”(UNI)
