Omicron COVID-19 Update: Who identifies Coronavirus variants in India? | What is INSACOG?

India reported the first two cases of Omicron COVID Variant on December 2, 2021. Both the cases of Omicron in the country have been detected in Karnataka and the primary and secondary contact tracing of the two cases have been detected and tested. 

The two cases of Omicron in India are detected through the INSACOG network. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has been jointly initiated by the Health Ministry and Department of Biotechnology with CSIR and ICMR. INSACOG is a consortium of 28 National Laboratories for monitoring the genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2. 

Objective

The objective of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium is to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 through a multi-laboratory network on a regular basis. INSACOG helps in ascertaining the status of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the country and establishing sentinel surveillance for the early detection of genome variants.

Two cases of #Omicron Variant reported in the country so far. Both cases from Karnataka: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/NlJOwcqGDf

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2021

What is INSACOG and how it identify Coronavirus Variants?

•INSACOG stands for Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequencing Consortia. It is a national multi-agency consortium that was set up by the Indian Government in December 2020.

•After the reports of a sudden outbreak of a UK variant of coronavirus came to light, the Government proposed to expand genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 across the country.

•INSACOG will assess the genomic variants of the coronavirus through a multi-laboratory network. Genome Sequencing of the virus can assist scientists to understand the hotspots of the variants of coronavirus, how the virus spreads and evolves, and aid in developing potential COVID vaccines.

•The data collected from genome sequencing of the virus will further aid in studying linkages between the variants and epidemiological waves (super-spreader events, outbreaks) of the virus.

Omicron Variant in India

The two cases of Omicron Variant in India have been detected in Karnataka. Both the patients are men aged 66 years and 46 years and are showing mild symptoms. As per the Health official, severe symptoms have not yet been detected. 

Omicron variant was first reported in South Africa and because of its high transmissibility ratio, it soon was announced 'Variant of Concern' by the World Health Organisation. The UN Health body has also warned against the severity of the new strain and the possibility that it can hugely impact the recovery that the world was seeing from the past few months from the pandemic.