Mangaluru: Passenger from Ghana tests positive; Omicron suspected

Mangaluru: A passenger who arrived from Ghana at the Mangaluru International Airport has tested positive for Covid, triggering fears of Omicron reaching coastal Karnataka.

Ghana is declared as a “High Risk” Country for Omicron. The rapid RTPCR sample tested at the Airport on arrival was found to be positive.

Following the findings, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Dr. Rajendra K V  convened an emergency meeting with the Chief Airport Officer of Mangaluru International Airport, Airport Health Officer (APHO), District Surveillance Officer (DSO), Covid Nodal officer, and in-charge of Apollo Labs to discuss containment measures.

Meanwhile, the traveler has been isolated at the Wenlock Hospital last night and is being treated. The passenger is asymptomatic, the DC said after the review meeting on Friday.

He further informed that none of the passengers on the plane have shown any symptoms so far. A total of 27 passengers on the flight have been considered as primary contacts and have been quarantined by the health department.

He also said that the sample from the passenger from Ghana has been sent to Bengaluru for Genomic Sequncing to know the presnce of the Omicron variant.