Omicron-Infected Woman Dies In Odisha's Bolangir

A day after India reported the first death from the Omicron variant of Covid-19, another death linked to the new variant of the virus has come to the fore in Odisha’s Bolangir district.

The deceased has been identified as a 45-year-old woman from Agalpur block of Bolangir district.

"The woman was admitted to the Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Bolangir on December 20, 2021 for treatment after suffering a stroke. After undergoing treatment at the hospital for two days, she was referred to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla in Sambalpur," said the Bolangir Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Snehalata Sahu.

"Her swab samples were collected and sent for examination by the VIMSAR authorities on December 22, 2021. The other day, she had tested positive for Covid-19. Following this, her samples were sent for genome sequencing which confirmed the presence of Omicron variant," added Sahu.

The CDMO said a health team has been sent to the woman’s house for contract tracing and will collect the swab samples of the family members. 

"She was not having any symptoms and came for treatment for stroke. The woman died while undergoing treatment at VIMSAR on December 27. It is yet to be ascertained whether she died due to heart attack or Omicron infection," the CDMO added. 

On the other, giving details about the first death due to the Omicron variant, Union Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal said that the 73-year-old male patient belonged to Udaipur in Rajasthan. The death was reported on December 31 while the patient's death was ‘technically’ related to Omicron.

“That person had already died by the time the Omicron positive results came," Agarwal clarified adding that the patient had diabetes and other co-morbid conditions.

He was being treated as per protocol for his comorbid conditions as well as for the infection, added the Health Secretary.

On the other hand, Odisha recorded the highest single-day spike in Covid-19  cases in over five months on Thursday as 1,897 persons, including 258 children from 0-18 years, tested positive for the virus and State health authorities hinted at a further rise in the infections in the coming days.