Monday, April 28, 2025

Omicron variant found in earlier test samples from November in Netherlands

Date:

Share post:

The Hague, Dec 1 : The Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in test samples taken in the Netherlands from November19 to 23, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has announced.

“In a special PCR test, the samples showed an abnormality in the spike protein,” the RIVM said.

“This raised the concern that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus might be involved.”

Two samples were confirmed as the Omicron variant. It is not yet clear whether these people had also visited southern Africa.

RIVM has alerted the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs) in the regions where the samples were taken. The GGD will notify the people involved and start source and contact tracing, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Omicron variant was first reported in South Africa. Last Friday, 624 people arriving from South Africa in the Netherlands were tested for the coronavirus at Schiphol Airport and 61 of them tested positive. In total, the Omicron variant has been found in 14 of those people, according to the latest RIVM data.

“Laboratory tests identified several different strains of the Omicron variant,” the RIVM added.

“This means that the people were probably infected independently from each other, from different sources and in different locations.”(IANS)

Related articles

NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun arrested: Police

Shillong, April 28: East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem today informed that the president of NEHUSU Sandy Sohtun...

Financial crisis hit Bangladesh as banks stop circulating new currency

Dhaka, April 28: Bangladesh is grappling with an economic crisis under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus,...

Govt objects to BBC’s Pahalgam coverage, terming terrorists as ‘militants’

New Delhi, April 28: The Central government has written a formal letter to the BBC, conveying India's ‘strong...

India-Pakistan tensions: History shows Sensex bounced back stronger after every conflict

Mumbai, April 28: Even as tensions between India and Pakistan rise once again following the barbaric Pahalgam terror...