Kathmandu: Nepal has confirmed the spread of Omicron’s sub-variant XBB.1.16 in the Himalayan nation.

Of 24 swab samples, on which whole-genome sequencing was carried out at the National Public Health Laboratory, the XBB.1.16 sub-variant was detected in 10 samples, which is around 42 percent of the total samples, reports The Kathmandu Post.

Whole-genome sequencing is a comprehensive method of analysing the entire DNA sequence of an organism’s genes. Researchers believe that whole-genome sequencing of coronavirus could be instrumental in tracking the severity and properties of the virus, the newspaper reported.

India is believed to be witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases due to the same variant of the Omicron.

Nepal registered 76 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours.