KUCHING: The infectious Delta variant has been identified as the dominant Covid-19 variant in Sarawak now, according to the latest report by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak's Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM).

       IHCM director Prof Dr David Perera said an additional 178 Delta variant cases were detected out of 220 positive cases sequenced by the institute as of Aug 17.

       This represents a detection rate of 81% for the Delta variant, an increase from the 73% reported on Aug 10.

       "There was also one case of the recently described Indonesian variant of interest (B.1.466.2), which was detected in Bintulu," he said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 28).

       Dr Perera added that Kuching division had a detection rate of 99% for the Delta variant, with 68 out of 69 cases sequenced.

       Samarahan and Serian divisions also had high detection rates of 93% (38 out of 41 cases sequenced) and 95% (16 out of 17 cases) respectively.

       "In addition, sharp increases in the Delta variant were observed in Bintulu with 84% (20 out of 24 cases), Miri with 65% (nine out of 14 cases) and Sibu at 60% (16 out of 27 cases).

       "The same variant has also been detected in Mukah at a rate of 78%, or seven out of nine cases sequenced," he said.

       Similarly, Dr Perera said the Delta variant had been detected in one case in Sarikei and two cases in Betong.

       IHCM is tracking the variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, circulating in the state.

       As of Aug 17,some 771 cases of variants of concern and interest have been detected in Sarawak from more than 2,000 positive cases sequenced.

       Of the total, 699 are of the Delta variant, 47 Beta, 13 Theta, 11 of the Indonesian variant of interest and one Eta.