West Bengal has reported its first case of a mutant coronavirus strain that surfaced in the United Kingdom, a senior health official said on Wednesday.
According to the information, the patient is the son of a senior official of the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. He tested positive for the mutant strain VUI-202012/01 after returning from London.
Senior health official informed that the youth is undergoing treatment at a state-run hospital and is under observation. The officials have advised all those who have come in contact with the patient to isolate themselves.
Reportedly, the youth had tested positive for COVID-19 at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport upon his return to Kolkata 10 days ago. As he had returned from the UK, his samples were sent for genetic analysis as per the protocol set by the Centre. The new strain of the coronavirus was detected during his genetic analysis.
It is to be noted, the new variant, which scientists have named “VUI – 202012/01” includes a genetic mutation in the “spike” protein that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus uses to infect human cells. The variant was first detected in October 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom from a sample taken the previous month, and it quickly began to spread by mid-December.
(Internet Input)