As 2020 draws to a close, news that a mutated version of the coronavirus has been found in the UK has once again heightened global anxiety.
On Monday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation temporarily suspended flights from the UK to India.
Millions have already done it entered into strict lockdown restrictions in London and south-east England due to the new strain. What’s worse is that reports suggest that this strain of Sars CoV-2 is 70% more infectious.
So where does this virus come from? What will be the implications? What do Indians need to know? These are some of the questions that run through everyone’s mind.
India Today TV contacted two medical experts to get some answers about the new Covid strain.
Dr. Lancelot Pinto, Consultant Pulmonologist, PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC, has a simple explanation for everything you want to know.
HOW HAS SITUATION BEEN?
The fact that the prevalence of the new strain (VUI 202012/01) has gradually increased since October suggests that it is a more resistant strain. Genomic model data, as well as patient viral load data, suggest that the new Covid strain is more transmissible.
The strain has been reported to have 23 mutations, of which two deletions in the viral genome (at position 69/70 and 144/145 in the spike protein) may be associated with increased transmissibility.
However, human behavior has also changed, and it is not yet known whether the increased transmissibility can be attributed solely to the infectivity of the new strain and not exacerbated by changes in human behavior.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE WORLD?
Increased infectivity does not mean increased virulence (severity). There have been cases in the past where viruses have mutated into strains that may have been better at transmitting, but resulted in milder disease.
We will have to wait and watch the patient outcomes associated with the new strains to better understand the implications for the world.
From now on, it should be a wake-up call for those who thought the pandemic was over and that we could stop taking the necessary precautions.
HOW DOES THE VIRUS MUTE?
Viruses are known to mutate constantly, and Sars-CoV-2 is no different. Most of these mutations occur by chance as the virus replicates, and several different strains of the virus have been observed since the beginning of the pandemic.
Sometimes viruses also mutate due to selection pressure, that is, if the antibodies present in the population threaten the existence of the virus, mutations could occur aimed at evading the host’s defenses.
These types of mutations tend to occur when a significant proportion of the population develop antibodies, either from past infections or from vaccination, and generally take years to occur.
The newly discovered mutant Covid strain is unlikely to fall into the latter category.
WHAT DOES THE NEW COVID STRAIN MEAN FOR INDIA?
It means that we cannot afford to let our guard down.
The precautions to be taken (masking, disinfection, social distancing) and the avoidance of 3Cs (closed spaces, crowded spaces, close contact) must be respected, since the speed with which the virus spreads throughout the world does These mutant viruses are likely to reach India sooner or later.
WHAT PRECAUTIONS ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE NEW COVID STRAIN?
No need to add new precautions to existing ones. We must continue to remind ourselves that while our Covid numbers appear to be improving, the pandemic is far from over and we must work hard to avoid having a false sense of security.
YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN RUMORS
Dr. Om Srivastava, Director of Infectious Diseases at Jaslok Hospital and Research Center, says that the new strain of the virus has the potential to go in several directions and that not much is known about it at this time.
In terms of symptoms, it is no different from the Covid-19 virus seen so far.
Dr. Srivastava is also a member of the Mumbai Covid-19 task force. He adds that one does not need to be carried away by rumors and should instead focus only on scientific evidence.
“Although in itself it is not unusual for the virus to have this type of mutation, since the nature of the virus is so small as this to keep changing, what must be observed is the number of people infected and those who have succumbed to it. strain. We have been irresponsible in our own behavior with social distancing and with the mask on. The fact that confinement restrictions are removed does not mean that we can return to the old way of life because this is partly a consequence of that kind of practice that existed in our lives before March 2020, “he said.
