Other three Kraken cases registered in Moldova

Chisinau, 2 February /MOLDPRES/ - The virological laboratory of the National Public Health Agency (ANSP) has made a new sequencing of the biological samples for monitoring the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 strains in Moldova and identifying mutation variants. Three cases of XBB.1.5 (Kraken), sub-line of Omicron, were identified following the analyses.     

According to ANSP, the results of the reaction made on 1 February confirmed the circulation of sub-lines belonging to the Omicron variant in all 16 samples subjected to sequencing.

The samples were selected in various regions of Moldova: Chisinau city, the districts of Ceadar-Lunga, Criuleni, Ialoveni, Stefan Voda and Orhei and were initially confirmed through techniques of molecular biology (rRT-PCR). The Omicron variant was identified in six men and 10 women. The XBB.1.5 (Kraken) sub-line was confirmed in three persons (two women and one man). Presently, this is the most contagious sub-line of Omicron.  

In the world, the sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the samples collected on the period 04-31 January 2023, shows that the share of the XBB.1.5 (Kraken) sub-variant in Europe is of 5.6 per cent, 2 per cent in Asia and 25.7 per cent in North America. According to data from 31 January, the sub-variant XBB.1.5 is dominant in the world, with a share of 16.8 per cent of all sequencings made.       

Photo: ANSP