Covid-19's new 'double mutant variant' found in India; all you need to know

In the middle of surging COVID-19 cases in India, the Union Health Ministry stated that a new 'double mutant variant' of the pathogen has been found in 18 states. Several other variants of concern (VOCs) have also been found, the ministry said on Wednesday.

However, the government highlighted that it was too early to say that the new variant was the cause of the recent spike of COVID-19 cases across the country.

The new double mutant variant was brought to light by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) which has been conducting genome sequencing on domestic and foreign travellers samples.

What we know so far:

1) In contrast to December 2020, Maharashtra has seen a rise in the fraction of samples with the E4840 and L452R mutations.

2) Such mutations confer immune escape and increased infectivity

3) These mutations have been found in about 15-20 per cent of samples and doesn’t replicate any earlier catalogued VOCs.

4) While the two mutations have been categorized as VOCs but calls for implementation of existing conventions of "increased testing, comprehensive tracking and quick quarantine besides treatment.

5) he VOCs found in India besides the new double mutant variant is not viewed as the reason for the swift rise in Covid-19 cases in the country.

6) The Health Ministry stated that these variants have not been found in numbers enough to establish a direct connection with the increase in COVID cases in India.

7) Genomic sequencing and epidemiological studies are continuing to further examine the state of affairs.

Which VOCs have been found:

INSACOG has been conducting genomic sequencing of circulating Covid-19 viruses and correlating epidemiological trends with genomic variant. According to INSACOG.

1) A lot of 771 VOCs have been found in a total of 10,787 positive samples shared by the states/UTs across the country.

2) Out of the Covid-19 variants found in India, 736 samples have tested positive for viruses of the UK (B.1.1.7) strain, making it the most rampant.

3) 34 samples have tested positive for the South African (B.1.351) strain while one sample was found positive of the Brazilian (P.1) strain.

4) The smaples of the UK, South Africa and Brazilian VOCs have been found in 18 states.

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