Coronavirus has mutated into at least 30 variants: Study

Beijing, April 22

The Wuhan-originated novel coronavirus that has globally killed around 1.8 lakh people so far, has mutated into at least 30 different genetic variations, according to a new study in China.

The study conducted by professor Li Lanjuan and others from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, was published in a non-peer reviewed paper. The researchers have detected 30 different mutations out of which 19 were new and previously undetected.

The study revealed that healthcare practitioners have vastly underestimated the ability of the virus to mutate. Incidentally, Dr Anthony Fauci, the famous immunologist and the leading member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, very early on in his presentation about the virus to US President Donald Trump had stressed the rapid mutation of the virus.

This characteristic of the virus, makes it extremely challenging for scientists to find a cure for the disease Covid-19. The Zhejiang university study shows that different strains have affected different parts of the world, which will make it even more difficult to develop a vaccine for it.

Li Lanjuan and his colleagues in the paper wrote, “Sars-CoV-2 has acquired mutations capable of substantially changing its pathogenicity.” The aggressive strains killed the human cells fastest, the study said. —iANS

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