Local with no travel history among two Omicron cases detected in India

Two cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in India, the Union Health Ministry has confirmed.

The two men, aged 66 and 46, from Karnataka had tested positive for the variant.

Out of two cases of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus that have been detected in the city, one is a South African national who has left the country after testing negative, while the other is a local with no travel history, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said on Thursday.


"Please note that second person has no travel history, so there may be chances of more people having the infection. There is need to be vigilant about the this new variant," BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said.

The city civic body said five contacts of the local person have also tested positive and their samples have been sent for genomic sequencing.

"All primary contacts and secondary contacts of both the cases have been traced and are being tested," the health ministry's joint secretary Lav Agarwal told a news briefing.

Both have reported mild symptoms. Severe symptoms have not been noted, an official said.

The Omicron variant, classified as variant of concern by the WHO, has been a cause of concern around the globe as countries take steps to restrict travel from affected places.

So far 373 cases of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in 29 nations. India is actively monitoring all international travellers especially those coming from at-risk countries.

(With input from agencies)