DHAKA, Aug 5, 2021 (BSS) -   The highly infectious Delta variant accounts for 98 percent of coronavirus cases in Bangladesh, according to a study released here today.   

"Among coronavirus positive patients, 98 percent are infected by Delta variant," this was formally revealed by Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Professor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed at a function, a press release said.

BSMMU collected swab samples from 300 COVID-19 positive patients during the past one month and it found 98 percent patients delta variant after decoding the genome sequencing of these samples.   

The rest of the variants found in the collected swab sample sequencing in the country were the South African variant (B.1.351) and one patient was detected  with Nigerian variant (B.1.525)

The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2  has spread fast in the country, the press release said.

Earlier, the Alpha or the UK variant was dominant in January 2021 and Beta or the South  African variant has made up most cases of Bangladesh in March 2021.

According to the first-month findings of the BSMMU Covid-19 genome sequencing research, the mortality rate is higher among patients with diabetes, cancer, respiratory and lung diseases.

Fatality rate of those patients aged above 60 years is much higher, if they are infected by the virus for the second time.