A new “double mutant” variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been discovered in India, health officials said on Wednesday.
The country’s health ministry said variants were found in more than 200 samples in the state of Maharashtra, respectively.
The variant has two mutations for the spike protein that the virus uses to enter human cells.
It is not clear whether the mutation will make it more transmissible, but other types of mutations in their spike proteins are spreading rapidly around the world.
However, officials said the double-mutant variant was not found in sufficient numbers to match the existing surgeons.
“Although [variants of concern] And a new double mutant variant has been found in India, which could not be established or straightened in some relationships or found sufficiently, explaining the rapid increase in cases in some states, ”health officials said in a statement.
“Genomic sequencing and epidemiological studies are ongoing to further analyze the situation.”
With post wire
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