A new strain of coronavirus has been detected in India, the Health Ministry announced Wednesday, but officials have not yet determined whether the variant is contributing to a wave of cases in the country.
An analysis of samples from the state of Maharashtra found that the percentage of samples with two specific mutations was increasing, the Ministry of Health wrote. The mutations that occurred in about 15 to 20 percent of the samples tested did not match previously cataloged variants, it noted.
According to The Associated Press, the state is responsible for more than 60 percent of all active business in India.
The new variant has two mutations in the spiny protein, which the virus uses to attach itself to cells, said Dr. Rakesh Mishra, the director of India’s Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, one of 10 research institutes sequencing the virus. . according to the AP.
Mishra added that these genetic differences could be concerning because they can increase infectivity and help the virus escape the immune system.
In addition to the new variant, sequencing in India also detected the species from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, according to the Ministry of Health. The most common in the country was the British variety, he added.
However, health officials and experts urged people not to associate the variants with the increase in infections in India, the AP noted.
According to World Health Organization data, coronavirus cases in India started to increase in February, after falling for several months. According to the WHO, the country reported 40,715 confirmed cases and 275 deaths on Tuesday.
Health officials are now concerned about the upcoming spring festivals in India, the AP reported. The government has urged states to impose restrictions, but many celebrants have ignored remote and virus protocols, the news service noted.
The Hill contacted the World Health Organization for comment.