Omicron’s sub-variant XBB.1.16 confirmed in Nepal

KATHMANDU, April 4: Highly contagious Omicron’s sub-variant XBB.1.16 variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Nepal.

The variant was confirmed in 10 out of 24 people who had recently tested positive for the disease, according to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP).

Apart from this, Two swab samples showed evidence of infection with each of the variants BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.5, and BA.5.2, while one infected individual's swab samples contained the BA.2.76 variant.

 In a press briefing earlier this week, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that predicting COVID-19 patterns is difficult, but the XBB.1.16 Omicron subvariant is causing a consistent increase in cases in South East Asia especially India and should be closely monitored.