A new double mutant strain of coronavirus has been found in India that causes increased infectivity amid grave concerns over the surge in cases in Maharashtra and Punjab, said Health Ministry officials.
In a press note, the Centre said that a total of 771 Covid-19 variants of concerns (VOCs) have been detected in the country so far, in a total of 10,787 positive samples shared by states and union territories.
A ‘double mutation’ is when two mutated strains of a virus come together to form a third one. The one reported in India is the result of the combination of E484Q and L452R.
The L452R strain is found in California in the United States and the E484Q is indigenous.
“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 press release stated.
The Health Ministry said that, so far, the bulk of infections linked to this strain – around 20 per cent – have been reported from Maharashtra – 206 cases. Cases have also been reported from Delhi, Gujarat and Punjab, among other places, the ministry added.
A ‘double mutation’ potentially allows the virus to escape from the body’s immune system and make itself more resistant to our antibodies. In some cases, the virus can also defend itself from the vaccine.
But public health experts said the bigger worry is whether the available vaccines would work on these strains or not. Last month AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria told NDTV that the vaccines currently deployed in the country should work against the new strains as well. This was after Bharat Biotech, the makers of Covaxin, said its drug had been found effective against the UK strain.
