The highly contagious Indian variant of the coronavirus has been detected in three more samples of Bangladeshis who recentlyb returned from the neighbouring country.

Professor Dr Iqbal Kabir Zahid, assistant director of the genome centre of Jashore Science and Technology University, confirmed the news to UNB.

The three infected persons are currently under institutional quarantine at Jashore and Narail.

Also read: Bangladesh detects first case of Indian Coronavirus strain

According to Dr Iqbal, two samples were sent from Jashore General Hospital on May 12 and one from Narail on May 16. The presence of the Indian variant was confirmed after conducting genome sequencing on the samples collected from the infected persons at the genome centre of the University.

Earlier on Monday, the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) announced that the Indian variant was found in six Covid-19 patients in Bangladesh.

Also read: Indian Covid Strain: Two more cases identified in Jessore

Two cases of the Indian Covid-19 variant were detected at the Genome Centre of Jessore University of Science and Technology for the first time on May 8.

Earlier that day, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed the first case of Indian coronavirus variant in Bangladesh.

The Indian strain of the virus was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka and it has been published on Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), said chief scientific officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir.

Also read: 3 India returnee students test Covid positive

India’s crematoriums and burial grounds are being overwhelmed by the devastating new surge of infections tearing through the country with terrifying speed, depleting the supply of life-saving oxygen to critical levels and leaving patients to die while waiting in line to see doctors, reports AP from New Delhi.

According to the World Health Organisation, the Indian variant has already spread to 60 countries across the world.