Double Mutant’ Coronavirus Variant Found In Bay Area That May Be Linked To India’s Recent Surge in Covid-19 Cases

 

In the United States, the researchers at Stanford University have detected a new form of the Coronavirus, whose emergence in India is coinciding with the surge in the country's COVID-19 cases.

According to Stanford’s Clinical Virology Laboratory, which has developed tests to find out the existence of viruses already spreading around the world, as of now one confirmed case and seven presumed COVID-19 cases of the Indian variant were found in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As reported, the concerning cases in the United States involve Stanford patients.

Dr Ben Pinsky, medical director of the laboratory told The Mercury News that the recent finding has demonstrated the “rapid spread” of this Coronavirus variant.

But needless to say, this discovery of the variant along with the growing number of other versions of the virus, comes as no shock to the experts as the viruses travel beyond the borders with the carriers.

The researchers found the mutations by scanning viral genetic sequences of patients from Stanford's Peninsula-based facilities and other clinics around the Bay Area.

However, the exact location of the variant discovery has not yet revealed by the university. 

“Double Mutant” 

The Indian media named the variant “double mutant”. As reported, this version of the virus includes two concerning mutations in a key part of the Coronavirus which help it latch onto cells.

India’s Coronavirus infection cases had been falling since September last year. But recently the country is noticing a massive surge in COVID-19 cases.

As per the Aarogya Setu app—developed by the Government of India to help citizens fight against COVID-19—on 3 April the country has reported 89,129 cases, most of which is occurring in Maharashtra.

The southwestern state has reported a 55 per cent increase in the cases in this previous week and the high-tech centre of the state, Mumbai has close ties to the Bay Area.

Experts suspect a link between the current spike and the variant. But there is yet no lab research of transmissibility.

After some samples collected from the region of Maharashtra, an analysis revealed the recent spike in viruses with the variant’s two mutations, which are E484Q and L452R.

Acceleration of Vaccination Program

The discovery of recent cases linked to the Indian variant has shown the importance of accelerating the vaccination process to ensure the safety of the people and curb the spread of the variant.

It also underscores the need to keep following safety measures like mask-wearing, maintaining social distance and isolating sick people.

Dr Kavita Patel, a fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. told CNBC that the variant will not be limited to India and experts have to keep an eye on it.

“This double mutation… is incredibly serious. It is probably just the tip of the iceberg in what we would worry about in Asia,” said Dr Patel who also served as a policy director during the Barack Obama-Joe Biden administration.