For last few days , there has been constant news about Corona Virus Strain on all the medias, and most of us still confused regarding this virus and how it is different from Corana Virus which has been known as Covid 19.
Scientists are scrambling to understand this new variant of Corona Virus, (which is now commonly referred as Corona Strain). It was first detected few months back in UK when the Covid 19 Genomics UK Consortium read the ful genetic code of Corona virus in two samples that had been collected in Kent and London on 20th & 21st September. But scientists did not become alarmed about this finding until mid December, when they associated it with rapidly rising case numbers in South East England. This variant of virus has far more mutations than previous variant of Corona virus tested from the beginning of this disease. Virologists suspect that the multiple mutations on the key “spike protein” that it uses to human cells, and also suspect that this mutations can occur in patients with severely suppresses immune system, which may be suppressed for many weeks, and then it can infect other person. Efforts to trace the index or original patient have failed. It is still not known whether this new variant originated in the UK or is travelled to UK by some outside patient. This virus has been responsible for 63% of cases since 29th November 2020.
Public Health Engineering (PHE) department of UK said data from whole-genome sequencing, epidemiology and modelling suggests that the new variant transmits more easily than earlier one.
PHE of UK also emphasised that there is “no evidence” that the variant is more likely to cause severe disease or mortality. But they are continuing investigations to understand this better.” They said mortality is a “lagging indicator” and be “continually monitor this over the coming weeks”.
PHE has said it does not know yet the mechanism for this increase in transmission. “We know that mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that makes it infectious, can change how the virus interacts with human cells,” it said.
It said the evidence shows that infection rates in geographical areas where this particular strain has been circulating have increased faster than expected, and the modelling evidence has demonstrated that this variant has a higher transmission rate than other variants in current circulation
The Indian govt issued the statement yesterday that “ the highly infectious Covid 19 Strain found in the UK and some other European countries has so far not been seen in India. Govt has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), which include contact tracing of all passengers who have travelled from or transited through UK in the past four weeks. A spoke person of Niti Ayog said that “ To the best of our knowledge, we have yet to spot such virus variant in India.” Playing down fears over the new variant of Covid 19, which has sparked concerns worldwide, spooked global markets, and resulted in 40 countries including India imposing a ban on travel to and from the UK.
The suspension of flights to the UK and 14 day compulsory quarantine for international passengers in Maharashtra have disrupted the travel plans of many. India has announced suspensions of all flights to and from the UK starting 23rd December till 31st December. In Mumbai, one may find shortage of rooms in the hotels around the airport. Passengers from UK, Europe and Middle east to be quarantined for 7 days. This assumption is based on the assessment of passengers that will come daily for first few days. Govt is hoping that number will decrease subsequently, as more and more people aware of this new rules, It is govt’s responsibility to accommodate them. Those quarantined in hotels will have to go for Covid tests between 5th and 7th day of quarantine. Arriving passengers between 21st and 23rd , isolation for those who are tested positive and institutional quarantine for contacts of passengers who test positive. These contacts will include all those passengers within three rows of the infected passenger.
Samples of passengers tested positive will be sent to the National Institute of Virulogy or any other appropriate lab for genomic sequencing. If the report of sequencing is consistent wth present prevailing virus Covid 19. Then the ongoing treatment protocol, including home isolation will be followed. But is the genomic sequencing indicates presence new variant of virus, the patient will continue to remain in separate isolation unit till patient tests positive.
Let us hope for the best, and take proper precautions so that we remain safe from this new variant also.
Waiting for your comments/views/feed backs.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
23rd December 2020.