UPSC Articles
Omicron has high immune escape potential: INSACOG
Part of: Prelims and GS II – Health
Context The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Sequencing Consortium (INSACOG) said there is clear experimental and clinical data supporting the very high immune escape potential of Omicron.
Key takeaways
- Initial estimates show the severity of illness being lower than what was seen in previous outbreaks.
- While Delta continues to be the most prevalent VOC [variant of concern] globally, the Omicron variant has completely displaced it in southern Africa and is on track to become the dominant variant in the U.K. and elsewhere.
Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG)
- Coordinated by: Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with MoH&FW, ICMR, and CSIR
- The consortium ascertains the status of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.
- INSACOG has a high level Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee.
- It has a Scientific Advisory Group for scientific and technical guidance.
- Aim: To monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network.
- This vital research consortium also assists in developing potential vaccines in the future.
- The consortium will also establish a sentinel surveillance for early detection of genomic variants with public health implication, and determine the genomic variants in the unusual events/trends (super-spreader events, high mortality/morbidity trend areas etc.)
