MUMBAI: Nearly 50% of the samples that tested positive for Covid-19 in the state and shipped from some districts for genome sequencing have the newly identified and highly contagious Indian variant of SARS-CoV-2 called B.1.617.
Most of these samples come from Vidarbha and so far none of the samples submitted have demonstrated the B.1.617 variant, according to scientists involved in INSACOG, a group of 10 national laboratories that perform full genomic sequencing of samples.
The Union Ministry of Health has not provided specific details on the whole genome sequencing project so far. A statement on Friday said that as of Thursday, 13,614 complete genome sequencing samples had been processed in the 10 INSACOG labs. “Of these, 1,189 samples tested positive for variants of concern for SARS COV-2 in India. This includes 1,109 samples with UK variants; 79 samples with the South African variant and one sample with the Brazilian variant, ”said the minister.
Some information about the results of the samples sent from the state was given to state health minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday during a virtual meeting with health minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
Tope said that of the 1,100 samples sent, 500 had been examined so far.
State government seeks detailed report on Indian variant
Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Saturday that after learning that 50% of the Covid-19-positive samples from the state contained the highly contagious Indian variant of SARS-CoV-2 called B.1.617, he is requesting a detailed report had asked from the center on it. He said he had been told it would not be available until the end of the investigation.
The concern in the state – as well as in the rest of the world, as the Indian variant has been isolated in multiple samples in the UK and US – is the variant’s high transmissibility.
“Since the new variant would be highly contagious, we sought a report and revised guidelines, if any, from the Center,” Tope said. “The Center said a detailed report would not be available until the end of the investigation.”
State Director of Health Services Dr. Archana Patil said she knew where the samples were collected. “Changes can be seen in some samples, but there is no comment on whether they explain this increase,” said Patil.
The B.1.617 was first identified by scientists at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in Delhi as part of the INSACOG project. They noted two mutations, L452R and E484K, which are known to have the ability to escape antibodies.
Articles written by experts around the world have noted that the Indian variety could be “at least in part” driving the current wave.
IGIB Director Dr Anurag Agrawal said nearly 15,000 Covid-19 positive samples have been examined since December. “Our team of scientists has identified the variant that has since been given B.1.617. It is generally present in a small percentage of the samples, but its presence has increased in recent weeks, ”said Dr. Agrawal.
Scientists from other countries had more details. The new strain has been detected in at least five Indian states, including Maharashtra, Delhi and Punjab, all of which have contributed to the increase in the number of cases in the country, in addition to B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 ( South Africa), and P.1 (Brazil) variants also circulating (in) India, ”said William A. Haseltine, former professor at Harvard Medical School, in a Forbes article.
He wrote that while the extent to which the strain had spread was unknown, of the 2,844 sequences submitted to the GISAID database from India since March 1, 162 sequences (approximately 6%) were classified as B.1,617. “This percentage is likely to increase,” he said.
Most of these samples come from Vidarbha and so far none of the samples submitted have demonstrated the B.1.617 variant, according to scientists involved in INSACOG, a group of 10 national laboratories that perform full genomic sequencing of samples.
The Union Ministry of Health has not provided specific details on the whole genome sequencing project so far. A statement on Friday said that as of Thursday, 13,614 complete genome sequencing samples had been processed in the 10 INSACOG labs. “Of these, 1,189 samples tested positive for variants of concern for SARS COV-2 in India. This includes 1,109 samples with UK variants; 79 samples with the South African variant and one sample with the Brazilian variant, ”said the minister.
Some information about the results of the samples sent from the state was given to state health minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday during a virtual meeting with health minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
Tope said that of the 1,100 samples sent, 500 had been examined so far.
State government seeks detailed report on Indian variant
Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Saturday that after learning that 50% of the Covid-19-positive samples from the state contained the highly contagious Indian variant of SARS-CoV-2 called B.1.617, he is requesting a detailed report had asked from the center on it. He said he had been told it would not be available until the end of the investigation.
The concern in the state – as well as in the rest of the world, as the Indian variant has been isolated in multiple samples in the UK and US – is the variant’s high transmissibility.
“Since the new variant would be highly contagious, we sought a report and revised guidelines, if any, from the Center,” Tope said. “The Center said a detailed report would not be available until the end of the investigation.”
State Director of Health Services Dr. Archana Patil said she knew where the samples were collected. “Changes can be seen in some samples, but there is no comment on whether they explain this increase,” said Patil.
The B.1.617 was first identified by scientists at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in Delhi as part of the INSACOG project. They noted two mutations, L452R and E484K, which are known to have the ability to escape antibodies.
Articles written by experts around the world have noted that the Indian variety could be “at least in part” driving the current wave.
IGIB Director Dr Anurag Agrawal said nearly 15,000 Covid-19 positive samples have been examined since December. “Our team of scientists has identified the variant that has since been given B.1.617. It is generally present in a small percentage of the samples, but its presence has increased in recent weeks, ”said Dr. Agrawal.
Scientists from other countries had more details. The new strain has been detected in at least five Indian states, including Maharashtra, Delhi and Punjab, all of which have contributed to the increase in the number of cases in the country, in addition to B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 ( South Africa), and P.1 (Brazil) variants also circulating (in) India, ”said William A. Haseltine, former professor at Harvard Medical School, in a Forbes article.
He wrote that while the extent to which the strain had spread was unknown, of the 2,844 sequences submitted to the GISAID database from India since March 1, 162 sequences (approximately 6%) were classified as B.1,617. “This percentage is likely to increase,” he said.