A new sub-variant of Omicron type BA.4 /5 of the coronavirus has been identified in the bodies of two Bangladeshis at the Genome Centre of Jessore University of Science and Technology (Just).
The university authorities confirmed the matter through a press release on Tuesday.
A team of researchers at the Genome Centre on Tuesday identified the new subtype by using a partial (spike protein) genome sequence of the virus collected from two infected people in Jessore.
Scientists believe it could spread more infections than previous types.
According to the Just research team, both victims are men. One of them is 44 years old and the other is 79 years old. Of them, one received the booster dose against Covid-19 while the other received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.
One of the victims is undergoing treatment in hospital while the other is being treated at home.
They have various mild symptoms, including fever, sore throat, cold and cough. Researchers believe that both of them were infected locally.
The research team also found that mutations in the new sub-variant (BA.4 /5) spike proteins were similar to those in Omicron.
Then again, this sub-variant also has mutations in amino acid number 452 of spike protein, like the delta variant.
This sub-variant also contains mutations in another important amino acid, number 486, of the spike protein.
These two sub-variants of Omicron were first identified in South Africa in January and February. They were identified in South India at the end of May.
Scientists believe that this subtype is responsible for the fifth wave of Covid-19 infection in South Africa and more recently the third wave in India.
People who have been vaccinated are also being affected by this sub-variant. In the coming days, scientists believe that this sub-variant may spread more infections compared to the other existing variants.
Regarding the identification of this new sub-variant of coronavirus, the vice-chancellor of Just and director of the Genome Center, Prof Dr Md Anwar Hossain, said: "This sub-variant is capable of easily evading the human immune system. There is no substitute to preventing it other than the strict Covid-19 hygiene measures, including the use of mask.”
"It will soon be possible to find out more by sequencing the full genome, so this sub-variant identification work will continue at the Genome Center," he added.
Earlier, local infections of the Delta and Omicron variants of coronavirus were also detected at the Genome Centre in Jessore.
This new sub-variant was identified under the leadership of Prof Dr Iqbal Kabir Zahid, chairman of the Department of Microbiology and associate director of the Genome Centre.