Studies show intense spread of mutant variants in State

‘U.K. variant’ and ‘double mutant variant’ with high infectivity found in 40% of samples as on April 1

Genomic sequencing studies of SARS-CoV-2 samples from across the State done in national as well as State scientific institutions have indicated wide and intense transmission of various mutant variants, including variants of concern (VOC), confirming the worst fears of many public health experts. “Sequencing of samples from across all districts as on April 1 done by the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi, has revealed the presence of the variant B.1.1.7 (first detected in the U.K.) and B.1.617 (“double mutant” reported from India) in 40% of the samples. Given the high infectivity potential of these variants, we project that this proportion would have now increased to 70%. In about 2% samples, the presence of B.1.351, first reported in South Africa, was also found. A few samples analysed from Thiruvananthpuram district at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology has indicated the presence of B.1.1.7 as well as a variant with a different double mutation,” a senior member of the expert committee on COVID, told The Hindu.