Kazakhstan detects new coronavirus variant

A new Eta variant of coronavirus was detected in four regions of Kazakhstan, Health Minister Alexey Tsoy announced on his Facebook account. According to him, the circulation of a new COVID-19 variant was recorded in Nur-Sultan, as well as in Karagandy, Mangystau and Pavlodar regions. The genetic study of positive laboratory samples was carried out by sequencing approach, Tsoy noted. The materials used were the ones obtained from coronavirus patients in July and August. As a result, the circulation of strains was discovered in 96 samples. Specifically, the Delta variant was identified in 59 percent of samples, the UK variant in 25 percent of cases, the Wuhan strain in 10 percent and the Eta variant in five percent of samples. A new coronavirus variant was discovered last December. The first cases were detected in Nigeria and the UK. To date, according to the WHO, the Eta variant of coronavirus has been found in over 70 countries. Symptoms include high fever, coughing, and loss of taste and smell.

Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova

Editing by Saule Mukhamejanova