Assam Reports 1st Case of Omicron Variant, 3 Dibrugarh University Students Test Positive

Dibrugarh: Assam has reported the first Omicron cases with three students of Dibrugarh University tested positive for the latest variant of Covid-19. 

An official of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that the three infected students, who have come all the way from South Africa, were detected with the Omicron variant after a test was conducted with the special kit recently developed by ICMR-RMRC, Lahowal.

ICMR Dibrugarh has sent the samples for 'Whole Genome Sequencing' to the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) based in Jorhat.

It has been sent to NEIST as the institute is equipped with NGS facilities meant for Next-Generation Sequencing for final testing.

ICMR-RMRC sources have said that they have carried out 'Targeted Sequencing' so as to reassure that the cases are Omicron positive. It has been found that all the three infected are hostel students of Dibrugarh University and two of them happen to be roommates.

The infected students had violated the quarantine norms and came to the International affairs office according to a source in Dibrugarh University.

The three students got admitted to the University after receiving fellowships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relation.

A university official has said that they have a separate hostel to house international students and also added that around 22 international students are studying in this university.

The three infected students belong to the Pharmaceutical Sciences department of Dibrugarh University.

They have been kept in isolation at the Jokai Covid care centre.

Also read: AASU Seeks Legal Action Against Dibrugarh SP

Also watch: