A New 'Double mutant' COVID variant detected in 18 states across India

Two new mutations are being identified in the same virus and Indian officials are examining if the variants are more infectious or less affected by vaccines. In India, around 10,787 samples from 18 states show 771 cases of known variants, 736 of the UK, 34 of the South African and one Brazilian. Whereas the Indian officials dismiss the link between the variants to a rise in cases. On Wednesday India reported 47,262 cases and 275 deaths - the sharpest daily rise this year.

A group of 10 national laboratories under India's health ministry, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG), carried out genomic sequencing, testing process to map the entire genetic code, of the latest samples. Mutations in viruses are common though most of them are insignificant and don't cause any variation in its ability to transmit or cause serious infection. However, mutations in the UK or South Africa variant lineages turn the virus more infectious and in some cases even deadlier.

"In key areas of the virus's spike protein, Double mutation may raise the risks, allowing the virus to escape the immune system" explained Virologist Shahid Jameel.

Compared with December last year, there is "an increase in the fraction of samples with the E484Q and L452R mutations", according to the analysis of the samples collected from Maharashtra state. Further, this mutation confers immune escape and increased infectivity, stated the health ministry.

Now Scientists will be busy doing the detective work needed to find out the answers. Because the proportion of tests with this double mutation is currently low, there is nothing to suggest about the current surge in cases, stated an official.

What's obvious is that this double mutation wants the same public health response. Extended testing, tracking close contacts, the immediate isolation of the infected individual, as well as masks and social distancing will need to be implemented majorly. Whereas subduing the pressure on India's overburdened healthcare system is key.

So far, vaccines for several concerned variants around the globe are effective, though sometimes less when compared to the original viruses. Still, scientists are positive that if needed, existing vaccines can be revised to target new mutations.

However, the government of India denies that the upsurge in cases is linked to the mutations. "Though variants of concern and a new double mutant variant have been discovered, however, they have not been detected in sufficient numbers to either form a direct relationship or explain the active surge in cases in some states," the health ministry said. After several experts had asked the government, the recent report comes to step up genome sequencing efforts.

India ranks 5th country in the world to sequence the genome of the COVID-19 after isolating it from some of the first cases recorded in January last year. Till present, more than 11.7 million cases and 160,000 deaths are reported and efforts are made to identify mutations.

The latest jump in cases comes during the 'delicate phase of India', as said by some experts, the healthcare system is already exhausted from a year-long battle against the coronavirus. Many states have already commenced re-introducing restrictions, including curfews and intermittent lockdowns.

Furthermore, Delhi and Mumbai, the two major cities, have ordered rapid tests at airports, railway stations and crowded areas like shopping malls.