KATHMANDU: It has been confirmed that ‘KP1’ and ‘KP2’ are new sub-variants of Omicron found in Nepal, signaling another development in the ongoing battle against Covid-19.

Genome sequencing conducted at the National Public Health Laboratory under the Ministry of Health and Population has revealed these new variants.

Simultaneously, the presence of a new variant of Covid-19 within Nepal has been verified.

‘KP1’ and ‘KP2’ variants were recently identified in Singapore, the United States, and several African countries.

Krishna Prasad Jaisi, Information Officer of the National Laboratory, stated that the new sub-variants ‘KP1’ and ‘KP2’ of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have entered Nepal.

According to the laboratory’s findings, 40 percent of the 42 recent infection cases across 15 laboratories nationwide were confirmed through genome sequencing to be KP1 and KP2 variants.

The laboratory reported indicate the presence of Omicron (JN.1) in two samples, Omicron (BA.20) in 12 samples, Omicron (KP1) in 17 samples, Omicron (KP.2) in one sample, and Omicron (KP.3) in one sample.

Previously, the new sub-variant ‘JN.1’ of Covid-19, observed in various countries including neighboring India and China, was also detected in Nepal.

While the emergence of the new variants ‘KP.1’ and ‘KP.2’ adds to the global pandemic landscape, there is no immediate cause for alarm in Nepal.

However, Jaisi, the laboratory’s information officer, emphasized the importance of maintaining precautions akin to those practiced during earlier phases of the pandemic.