KARACHI: The Sindh health department and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have confirmed that at least six people were tested positive for the XBB and XBB.1 Omicron variants of coronavirus in Karachi. Officials however added that Pakistan was still safe from the highly infectious variant – BF.
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The Sindh health department said six Karachiites, who were infected with the XBB and XBB.1 variants were the residents of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Shadman Homes and Tariq Road. “All patients are in stable condition,” a spokesperson told media.
The finding of new variant of Covid-19 came amid reports that China was experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases due to a strain that is a sub-variant of the highly infectious Omicron variant: BF.7 or BA.5.2.1.7.
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Surprisingly, the notification by the Sindh Health department said that the patients had no “travel history of China” and that the Omicron variant wound in them had no “linkage with recently-detected China variant BF.7”. In Islamabad, the NIH also said that there was no case of a more contagious BF.7 variant in the country.
