First, UK Variant Was Found In 80% Cases In Punjab, Now Indian Mutation Variant Reaches Britain

More than a week after Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Punjab have UK variant of the virus, cases with traces of Indian double mutation variant has been found in Britain.

Officials suggest that the new Indian variant of the COVID virus that's been detected in the UK has all the hallmarks of a very dangerous virus.It has two new significant mutations in the spike protein that help it infect cells and evade the immune system.

Simon Dawson/Reuters

Cases of double mutation in UK

New figures from Public Health England (PHE) show there have been 73 cases detected in England and another four in Scotland.The variant - officially named B.1.617 - is almost certainly playing a part in the very sharp spike in the epidemic in India.

It has been detected in at least five Indian states that are hotspots for the surge, with more than 2,00,000 new cases of COVID detected nationwide on Thursday One of the concerning mutations, called L452R, is also found in a variant circulating in California, though there is no link between the viruses. The Indian variant has evolved independently.

BCCL

The other mutation in the virus is completely new. It is at the same '484' position in the spike protein that is also mutated in the South African variant, and some others. But the actual mutation - E484Q - is slightly different.Lab tests show both mutations help the virus to infect human cells and evade some antibodies.

The combination - called a double mutant - is a particular concern.As yet it is unknown what impact they would have on the effectiveness of the existing vaccines.?And latest PHE figures show there have been 56 more cases of the South African variant detected in the UK in the last week as the virus continues to spread, with the total now 600.

Reuters

Genome sequencing confirmed UK variant in Punjab

This, however, comes a week after the UK variant wreak havoc in the state of Punjab.

"In Punjab, 80 per cent of the cases due to the UK variant have been found and it has been confirmed by genome sequencing. It has come to notice that this surge in cases is event-driven like big fat weddings, local body elections, farmer protest, etc could also play a possible role," Vardhan said, during his meeting with Health Ministers of 11 states to review the COVID-19 situation.

AFP

Genomic sequencing is an advanced test that determines the precise genetic information a virus carries as viruses mutate as they multiply and spread.