Kerala govt plans to carefully monitor nature of mutant Covid variants

Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of Covid-19 mutant variants spreading quick, the state is planning to launch a speedy evaluation plan to carefully observe the character of mutant viruses. A supply within the know mentioned that the plan includes analysis laboratories within the state. The knowledge can be analysed each week to make interventions because it was discovered that mutant variants are triggering the second wave of the pandemic. The  three quick spreading variants are the UK variant ( B.1.1.7), Indian or double mutant variant (B.1.617) and South African variant (B.1.351). 

The new facility will draw on the experience of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kozhikode Medical College and National Institute of Virology, Alappuzha. “The rapid assessment plan will be able to churn out analyses every week. It will enable the government to make an early  intervention rather than wait for a month to get the data from national labs,” mentioned the supply. According to him, the plan can be introduced in a day or two. 

The outcomes of genome research by CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Interactive Biology (IGIB), launched on April 25 discovered that mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2  that trigger Covid-19 have been prevalent in all districts besides Pathanamthitta.  However, the delay in acquiring the outcomes of the samples collected in March drew criticism from well being specialists.

“The result can be used only for retrospective analysis as we lost crucial time to make early intervention. The Indian variant (B.1.617) will be leading the pack in the surge by now,” mentioned a well being professional. According to him, it was necessary to check not less than one per cent of samples of constructive individuals to know the genetic and epidemiological hyperlink of the mutant virus.

The state doesn’t have a lab to conduct a full genetic sequencing of the virus as finished by labs below Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG). Hence, the speedy evaluation plan will contain smaller labs to check part of the virus (spike protein space) and make inference, mentioned the supply. According to him, bioinformatics capabilities can be constructed to analyse the samples with the assistance of IGIB. RGCB has been concerned in conducting research on spike proteins with small pattern sizes.