PUNE:
The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has identified yet another
variant of the Covid-19 virus, which has been identified as the B.1.1.28.2
variant, through genome sequencing of samples collected from international
travellers.
According to a report, NIV, Pune has found the
new variant after genome sequencing of samples collected from travellers who
arrived in India from Brazil and the United Kingdom. The report has said the
new variant is likely to cause severe symptoms and may need greater screening
of vaccine efficacy against it.
Meanwhile, a broader study by INSACOG, a grouping of
10 laboratories, has found that the surge of Covid-19 cases in India in the
last two months shows a correlation with the rise in B.1.617 variant of the
SARS-CoV-2. April and May witnessed a deadly second wave of coronavirus cases
that swept through the country, stretching the healthcare infrastructure to its
limits.
According to INSACOG, the B.1.1.7 lineage of the
virus, which was first identified in the United Kingdom is declining in
proportion across India in the last one and half month. The B.1.1.7 variant of
the coronavirus has been named 'Alpha'.
The B.1.617 lineage of SARS CoV-2 was first reported
from Maharashtra but it is now seen in other states such as West Bengal, Andhra
Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Telangana. "The current surge in cases seen over
the last two months in some states shows a correlation with the rise in the
B.1.617 lineage of SARS CoV-2," the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on
Genomics (INSACOG) said.
The B.1.617 lineage has further evolved into three
sublineages -- B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3. Early data shows B.1.617.2,
dubbed Delta by the WHO, has higher transmission advantages over the other two
sublineages.
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