The number of patients showing COVID-19-like symptoms is reportedly increasing in Lahore, while government teaching hospitals are currently not providing testing facilities to confirm the virus, according to media reports.
Sources said patients with symptoms including persistent cough, fever, breathing difficulties and severe body aches are being reported at hospitals on a daily basis.
However, the reported cases remain unconfirmed as COVID-19 testing is not being carried out at government teaching hospitals. The lack of testing means doctors and health authorities are unable to determine whether the symptoms are linked to COVID-19 or other respiratory infections.
Sources further claimed that government teaching hospitals have yet to arrange adequate facilities for COVID-19 testing, leaving patients without a confirmed diagnosis.
The absence of testing and diagnostic facilities has also raised concerns about the identification and monitoring of possible cases. Without confirmation, health authorities may face difficulties in assessing the extent of the reported illness and taking appropriate measures to contain any potential spread.
Patients and their families have called for testing facilities to be made available at government hospitals so that suspected cases can be properly diagnosed and monitored.
Earlier, a new variant of COVID 19 had been tracked, known as Cicada or BA 3.2. It had drawn global attention for being detected across 24 countries. The health authorities were also monitoring its spread in the United States.
The variant was first identified in November 2024 in South Africa. The variant has gradually spread across multiple regions.
The regions include North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa. This growing footprint had raised a lot of concerns because the high number of mutations found in its spike protein was unusual.
The latest health data indicates that BA 3.2 has around 70 to 75 spike protein mutations. This makes it significantly different from strains targeted by recent COVID vaccines.
According to the experts, these genetic changes could help the variants partially dodge the immunity that was built through vaccination or prior infection. That is the reason this variant is being watched closely.
When compared to the other variants, there is no evidence indicating that Cicada causes illness more severe than other variants.
The only thing concerning is its ability to be able to evade antibodies in laboratory testing. This means that continued surveillance is important. Especially considering that infections have spread to over 24 countries.
The countries and territories where the variant has been reported include:
- South Africa
- Mozambique
- Kenya
- Denmark
- Germany
- The Netherlands
- England
- Belgium
- Czechia
- France
- Ireland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Norway
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- USA
- Canada
- Japan
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Hong Kong
- New Zealand
The immediate concern of health experts is monitoring and not panicking. The Cicada has not been linked to a global surge so far, but due to its mutations, it is being closely watched.