4 recent Covid deaths not in official count, one +ve for BA.2.38

NAGPUR: The Neeri lab has detected emerging Omicron variant BA.2.38 and variant of concern BA.2 (like) in the samples of two deceased, who haven’t been counted in the official Covid toll. Two more such Covid-positive samples, which didn’t qualify for whole genome sequencing, were forwarded to the lab. Both were also not included in the official Covid toll.
All the four deaths took place sometime between June 15 and 23 at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
While it couldn’t be confirmed whether these deceased were city residents, the samples dated June 20 and 21 carried local addresses. The sample of a 51-year-old man was found positive for BA.2.38, and the BA.2 variant was found in a 29-year-old woman’s sample. The samples of two men, aged 42 and 47, were unfit for the genomic study.
In its 23rd genome sequencing series, the Neeri lab led by scientist Krishna Khairnar studied 88 samples from Vidarbha and Tamil Nadu. Overall, 18% samples tested positive for BA.2.38 in the study. BA.5 variant share too has increased to 23%, while BA.2 was found in 28% samples.
NMC officials could confirm only the woman’s death following septicaemia (blood poisoning) after delivery. She had tested positive for Covid while in admission.
The GMCH microbiology lab had marked the samples as those belonging to deceased patients. This rules out the possibility that the patients were cases of incidental findings, which generally happens in ‘brought dead’ cases. Officials too confirmed that samples of only Covid-positive patients are sent for study. Yet, they failed to explain why these deaths were not declared on the ICMR portal as per norms.
GMCH medical superintendent Dr Atul Rajkondawar said, “Samples of only Covid-positive patients are sent for study. I will have to see the details of the patients. We have been reporting all Covid deaths.”
As per the district health office data, Nagpur district has not witnessed any Covid death since March 19. The toll stands at 10,338.
Acting civil surgeon Dr Madhuri Thorat said GMCH comes under municipal limits and referred queries to NMC.
NMC chief medical officer Dr Narendra Bahirwar said no Covid death has been reported in June in the city limits.