A forum of scientific advisors set up by the Indian government has reported minor mutations in some samples of the coronavirus that “may escape the immune response” and may require further study, a forum leader told Reuters.
However, the advisors said while reporting the mutations there is currently no reason to believe that they could expand or be dangerous.
Scientists are investigating what has led to the current rise in cases in India and, in particular, whether a variant called B.1.617, first discovered in the country, is to blame. The World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared the Indian variant a “worrying variant” as it did with variants first discovered in the UK, Brazil and South Africa. However, the WHO said on April 27 that their early modeling, based on genome sequencing, suggests that B.1.617 has a higher growth rate than other variants circulating in India.
READ: “Indian strain” of coronavirus found in 17 countries: WHO
The advisory forum, known as the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genetics Consortium or INSACOG, has now found more mutations in the coronavirus that it believes need to be followed closely.
“We are seeing some mutations in some samples that could potentially escape immune responses,” said Shahid Jameel, chairman of INSACOG’s scientific advisory group and a leading Indian virologist. He did not say whether the mutations were seen in the Indian variant or any other strain.
“If you don’t grow these viruses and test them in the lab, you can’t say for sure. At this point there is no reason to think they can spread or be dangerous, but we’ve tagged them so we can keep them.” our eye on the ball, “he said.
INSACOG unites 10 national research laboratories.
India reported more than 400,000 new Covid-19 cases for the first time on Saturday. The raging infections have collapsed his healthcare system in the capital New Delhi, among other places, with a lack of medical oxygen and hospital beds.
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