MOE: Genetic Analysis Lab will decide on the Indian strain situation

INA – Baghdad

Ministry of Health and Environment announced that tests will be conducted for Iraqis coming from India as part of the second flight, while setting a date for the opening of the genetic analysis lab for viruses, as it also confirmed that this will decide the situation regarding the detection of those infected with the Indian strain.

"Iraq cannot detect the Indian strain now until the work in the genetic analysis lab for viruses is completed," the director of public health in the ministry, Riyad Abdul Amir Al-Halfi, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Al-Halfi explained that "the work is close to completion, but there is a training phase, and then Iraq will have the ability to make genetic analysis, and that within two months or less to start of work in the laboratory,”

"Until now, we do not know the extent of the effectiveness of vaccines against the Indian strain, and the effectiveness has not yet been proven in the whole world, but it is the best option for citizens," he went on stressing that "there is no option before us but the vaccine,"