The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has announced the results of genetic sequencing from 22 samples suspected of having the Omicron variant.

Specifically, for the early detection of Omicron, the Hanoi CDC took samples from patients with positive RT-PCR results and sent them to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for gene sequencing.

The results showed that 15/22 submitted samples have Delta variants and no Omicron variant has been recorded (the virus load in other seven samples is not enough for gene sequencing).

At a research laboratory of the Central Military Hospital 108 in Hanoi. Photo: An Ngoc

Previously, on December 28, the Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the first case of Omicron variant infection in Vietnam. The virus carrier is a man who arrived in Hanoi from the UK. The patient was immediately quarantined after he landed, and has not had any contact with the public.

The man was sent to a quarantine facility at the Central Military Hospital 108 from the airport in a specialized vehicle. The hospital has also collected a specimen from the patient.

He underwent a real-time RT-PCR test and also returned a positive result. The hospital conducted genome sequencing on the patient on December 20 and 21 and confirmed that the man is infected with the Omicron, or B.1.1.529 variant, according to the health ministry.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine under the MoH, there were 165 people on the same flight with the first Omicron-infected patient. Most of them are in Hanoi and three other localities.

“With the immigration management measures we are applying, it is unlikely that the Omicron variant will spread to the community,” said a representative of the Department of Preventive Medicine.

In order to strengthen monitoring and prevent the Omicron variant, the Hanoi Department of Health has asked subordinate units to actively monitor and manage all arrivals from abroad, especially cases traveling through countries that have recorded and spread the new variant.

Hanoi’s health sector has also strengthened the surveillance system, including routine surveillance, key surveillance for influenza syndrome, severe viral pneumonia, event-based surveillance.

The health sector pays special attention to taking samples for testing of suspected cases of cough and fever in order to early detect Covid-19 infections.