[ad_1]
PUTRAJAYA: The genome sequencing carried out in samples of the Covid-19 virus has helped the Ministry of Health (MINSA) in its planning to improve preparedness to face the pandemic.
Chief Health Officer Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said Malaysia has performed genome sequencing, but not in all cases identified as positive for Covid-19.
“We have implemented (genome sequencing) from the beginning. For example, we found that there were 692 Indonesian individuals in the Sri Petaling tabligh collection group. At the time, our prediction was that the virus transmission came from Indonesia, but when a subsequent genome sequencing was carried out, we discovered that the transmission originated from a strain identified in Indonesia.
“So we know at the beginning of the second wave that the infection came from Indonesia,” he told a news conference on the development of Covid-19 here yesterday.
He responded to a question following a statement by former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke saying yesterday that genome sequencing of Covid-19 infected patients gives New Zealand an edge in dealing with the outbreak.
Dr. Noor Hisham said that genome sequencing did not help slow down the transmission of Covid-19, but it can identify the location as well as help the ministry with its planning to improve mitigation measures and preparedness for mutations with high infectivity.
He said the method helps the Health Ministry learn more about the characteristics of the virus by studying certain groups and strains, but that it takes up to three weeks to identify each mutation.
Dr. Noor Hisham said that three strains were identified at the initial stage, strain A from the United States, B from Wuhan in China and C from Indonesia.
He said genome sequencing was also carried out on the Sivagangga group, which later revealed that it was linked to those returning from India, where the D614G mutation was detected with high infectivity.
Genome sequencing was also carried out in the Tawar, Sungai and Benteng groups in Lahad Datu, he added.Called
[ad_2]
