India Covid-19 Variant: Everything You Need To Know

On Monday, May 10, the World Health Organization (WHO) added a fourth strain of the novel coronavirus to the list of variants of concern. The B.1.617 has joined the ranks of the British, South African and Brazilian mutations of the virus that originated from China in 2019. The listing has raised a number of questions regarding the mutation, especially if vaccines are effective against the variant.

To understand why WHO has a list of variants of concern it is important to understand what the term means. Any virus is likely to mutate over time. These mutations of the original virus are called its variants. Some of the variants of the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan are considered to be more transmissible, more lethal and more vaccine-resistant. These mutations are viewed as variants of global concern.

India has seen a significant rise in Covid-19 infections as well as mortalities. The nation has seen the highest daily infection numbers in the world. It has been noted that covid-19 patients in the country have been infected by the mutated version of the virus. The mutation of the virus was first noted in October 2020. Maria van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, said that some studies show the Indian strain to be more transmissible than the original virus, DW reported.

The highly transmissible virus has not only infected millions of people in India but has also been seen in patients of 17 other countries. Aside from neighboring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the Indian variant has been seen in the United Kingdom and the United States as well, The Mint reported. Many countries have taken cautionary steps by restricting flights from India.

How the existing vaccines affect the mutated virus is not entirely known. Studies on the variant are being conducted. While it is believed to be more transmissible, it is not likely to be more vaccine-resistant. WHO Chief Scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, confirmed that there was insufficient data to determine the vaccine effectiveness on the variant. Data is also insufficient to prove whether diagnosing the strain is more difficult.

More details on the variant are expected when the WHO presents its weekly epidemiological update.