New Delhi (NVI): A new ‘double mutant variant’ of the novel coronavirus has been detected in 18 states in the country in addition to many other strains or variants of concern (VOCs), Union Health Ministry today said.
“Though VOCs and a new double mutant variant have been found in India, these have not been detected in numbers sufficient to either establish or direct relationship or explain the rapid increase in cases in some states,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Genomic sequencing and epidemiological studies are continuing to further analyse the situation,” it added.
Since INSACOG initiated its work, 771 variants of concerns (VOCs) have been detected in a total of 10787 positive samples shared by States/UTs, the statement read.
These include 736 samples positive for viruses of the UK (B.1.1.7) lineage. 34 samples were found positive for viruses of the South African (B.1.351) lineage. 1 sample was found positive for viruses of the Brazilian (P.1) lineage. The samples with these VOCs have been identified in 18 States of the country.
The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia, or INSACOG, has been conducting genomic sequencing and analysing the circulation of Covid-19 viruses.
The ministry said that the analysis of samples in Maharashtra now as compared to December last year showed that there has been a rise in “E484Q and L452R mutations”, which confer immune escape (when the immune system is not able to recognise and eliminate a virus or pathogen) and increased infectivity (the ability of a pathogen to establish an infection).
“These mutations have been found in about 15-20% of samples and do not match any previously catalogued VOCs,” the statement said.
“These have been categorised as VOCs but require the same epidemiological and public health response of ‘increased testing, comprehensive tracking of close contacts, prompt isolation of positive cases & contacts as well as treatment as per National Treatment Protocol’ by the States/UTs,” the statement added.
In Kerala, the N440K variant, which is also associated with immune escape, has been found in 123 samples in 11 districts, it said.
This variant was found earlier in 33% of samples from Andhra Pradesh, and in 53 of 104 samples from Telangana, the ministry said, adding that it has also been detected in 16 other countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Singapore, Japan and Australia.
On Tuesday, the health ministry had said that 795 people in India have been infected with the coronavirus variants that were first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.
India on Wednesday registered 47,262 new coronavirus cases. With this, India’s tally rose to 1,17,34,058. The toll climbed by 275 to 1,60,441.
-CHK
