• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Advertising
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Monday, August 8, 2022
Lake City Times
No Result
View All Result
  • Top News
  • Region
  • City News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Edit-Oped
  • Tourism
  • National
  • World
  • ePaper
  • Top News
  • Region
  • City News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Edit-Oped
  • Tourism
  • National
  • World
  • ePaper
No Result
View All Result
Lake City News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Omicron: DAK reiterates demand to set up genetic testing lab in Kashmir

LCT Desk by LCT Desk
December 18, 2021
in News
Reading Time: 2min read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsappTelegram

READ ALSO

Missing Poonch youth’s body recovered in PaK, handed over on LoC

Coronavirus: 796 test positive in JK

Srinagar, Dec 18: With India reporting 101 cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 so far, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday has reiterated its demand to set up a genetic testing lab in Kashmir.
“That would help detect and track the new variant of Covid-19,” said DAK President and Influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
The DAK President said genetic testing lab will not only help in identifying Omicron that might have sneaked into the valley, but will also check whether any new mutant has emerged in the region.
“Detecting the mutant would help plan appropriate and effective public health strategy to prevent and control the spread of the new variant in the valley,” he said.
Dr Hassan said tracing the variant early would be critical to prevent another deadly wave of Covid-19 like the one we saw earlier.
“Genetic testing can serve as an early warning system to guide public health response. It can help in identification of hotspots which is critical to plan targeted public health interventions to control the spread of the disease,” he said.
“Genome sequencing is imperative to understand how the variant is behaving in terms of infectivity, severity, response to treatment,” said Dr Nisar adding “we have seen how previous variants behaved differently in different populations.”
General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said Jammu and Kashmir is seeing a rise in the number of infections in fully vaccinated persons which could be due to the variant.
“We need to ramp up “random” genetic testing. Travel history alone should not be the deciding factor for sequencing the samples as Karnataka doctor, who was among the first two cases of Omicron had no travel history,” he said.
Spokesperson DAK Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga said with no genetic testing facility in Kashmir, samples are sent outside valley for sequencing which results in delay of test reports.
“If we don’t know the changes in the genetic structure of the virus, we are running blind; fighting a pandemic without doing adequate genome sequencing is almost fighting an unknown enemy,” he said.
“Omicron, a highly mutated variant appears to be more infectious than the previous Covid-19 variants. First identified in South Africa, the new variant has been detected in 85 nations. The virus is causing a massive spike in cases across Europe,” he added.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Related Posts

News

Missing Poonch youth’s body recovered in PaK, handed over on LoC

August 6, 2022
Man found dead in Kokernag village

Poonch, Aug 6: The body of a Poonch youth, who was missing from last five days, has been recovered in...

Read more
by LCT Desk
0 Comments
News

Coronavirus: 796 test positive in JK

August 6, 2022
Coronavirus: Kashmir logs 137, Jammu 29 new cases

Srinagar, Aug 6: Jammu and Kashmir Saturday reported 796 fresh cases of Covid-19, pushing the number of active cases to...

Read more
by LCT Desk
0 Comments
News

Shailendra Kumar visits Anantnag, reviews developmental scenario

August 6, 2022
Shailendra Kumar visits Anantnag, reviews developmental scenario

Anantnag Aug 6: Principal Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department (PWD), Shailendra Kumar, who is also the incharge Secretary for District...

Read more
by LCT Desk
0 Comments
News

Medical officer suspended for non-compliance of govt order

August 6, 2022
Interrogation Video: Two officials suspended, inquiry initiated against SHO concerned in B’la

Srinagar, Aug 6: Authorities on Saturday ordered suspension of Medical officer Dr Bakhtiar Asif Draboo while Dr Afsana was transferred...

Read more
by LCT Desk
0 Comments
News

Absence of doctors, staff hits patient care at PHC in Bandipora

August 6, 2022
Lady doctor beaten up ‘mercilessly’ after terminally ill patient dies, police register case

Bandipora, Aug 6: The residents of Ashtangoo area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district here have complained of dearth of staff...

Read more
by LCT Desk
0 Comments
News

Mysterious blast creates panic in Kralpora

August 6, 2022
Soldier injured in ‘accidental’ mine blast in Kupwara

Naveed Ul Haq Budgam, Aug 6: A mysterious blast created panic in Kralpora village of Chadoora in central Kashmir's Budgam...

Read more
by LCT Desk
0 Comments
Next Post
Govt committed to provide quality transport facilities to public: Lt Governor

Govt committed to provide quality transport facilities to public: Lt Governor

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Advertising
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2021 Lake City Times - Premium theme by GITS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Top News
  • Region
  • City News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Edit-Oped
  • Tourism
  • National
  • World
  • ePaper

© 2021 Lake City Times - Premium theme by GITS.