UK variant found in 70% samples sent from PGI

Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 15

The National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC), New Delhi, has found UK variant (B.1.1.7) of Covid-19 in 70 per cent of the samples sent by the PGI, Chandigarh, while P681H mutation was found in 20 percent of the samples. A majority of the samples were from Chandigarh.

‘Avoid crowded places’

PGI Director Prof Jagat Ram advised avoiding crowded places and non-essential travel. Stressing on the need for vaccination, he said the priority groups of the population should get vaccinated against Covid-19 which would protect against this disease and reduce the intensity/severity of the disease. It will further help in breaking the chain of the Covid-19 transmission.”

Out of the 60 samples sent to the centre by the PGI on March 25, 45 samples were from Chandigarh. Out of these, 31 were found having UK variant (B.1.1.7), while mutation was detected in 12 samples.

About B.1.1.7 variant

According to the Centre of Disease Control, United States, B.1.1.7 variant is associated with increased transmissibility, i.e. more efficient and rapid transmission). In January 2021, scientists from the UK reported evidence that suggests the B.1.1.7 variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared with other variants.

PGI Director Prof Jagat Ram said: “It is evident that the recent Covid-19 surge is due to high prevalence of UK variant (B.1.1.7) in the region. It is a sensitive situation as the variant is known for its increased transmissibility. There is a lot of uncertainty whenever the virus changes its characteristics or not. So, we should remain cautious from now on.”

Prof Mini P Singh, a virologist at the PGI, explains that multiple mutations lead to a new variant. P681H is one of the mutations found in the UK variant. This mutation has been found in the spike region due to which entry of the virus into the host cell is increased. This will also increase the transmissibility of Covid-19.

More severe with ‘immune escape’, says DHS

Dr Amandeep Kaur, Director of Health Services (DHS), Chandigarh, said: “Immune escape has been widely observed in the new UK variant. The virus is directly attacking the lung tissue and patients are developing viral pneumonia in a brief time of illness. A lot of patients test negative for RT-PCR, but CT scan shows that their lungs have been badly affected.”

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