Khit / Yoon (NSS) – Jan 12 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on January 10 that three new variants of the Covid-19 have been found in the domestic.

The Department of Medical Research under the MOH conducted Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) on 18 specimens from Covid-19 positive patients transferred by the National Health Laboratory Department since December 28, 2023.

Processing the WGS, 16 specimens: three from those who returned from Singapore and 13 others were the samples taken from those who were infected within country, were found SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant, Omicron HV.1, JN.1, EG.5.1.8 variants, Omicron JN.1, and XBB.1.16.17. 

“Whenever the new variants are emerged in other countries, they come to us sooner or later. The variants that we have confirmed are already found in other countries. It means the variants have just arrived in Myanmar now. The new variants are speedy infectious.  Those who have not yet vaccinated, the elderly, and those who are susceptible to the disease. Therefore, the Ministry of Health should make it mandatory to inject every six months to update the vaccine as booster.” Dr. Than Naing Soe, Treatment Department under MOH told NSS.

The MOH announced that the HV.1, JN.1 and EG.5.1.8 of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants are newly detected variants in Myanmar.