Four samples in Yavatmal, Amravati have mutated strain of Covid, but not the UK or African version

NAGPUR: Genome sequencing of randomly selected confirmed positive Covid-19 samples from Yavatmal and Amravati have shown four samples with mutated strain of virus, which can bypass antibodies.
After sudden surge in new patients of Covid-19, health authorities from Amravati, Yavatmal and Akola had sent some of the newly detected positive samples for testing to Pune.They were tested at the BJ Government Medical College and Sassoon Hospital lab.
Experts at BJ Medical confirmed they have found E484K mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 strain from samples of four Covid patients in Amravati. “These mutations should not be confused with mutations seen in UK strain or South African strain,” said senior microbiologist Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, professor and head of the microbiology department at BJ Medical, Pune.
The mutation located in the spike protein region helps the strain escape existing neutralizing antibody. This means that the existing virus-specific antibodies seen in recovered patients cannot neutralize the strain with E484K mutation. The mutation, experts say, is not unique and has been seen in various other countries.
Dr Rajkumar Chavan, divisional deputy director (health) for Akola division, which includes both Amravati and Yavatmal, said they have not officially received any such report about the new mutated strain so far. “We had been asked to send some random samples for genome sequencing to Pune after sudden surge in Amravati, Yavatmal and Akola. Respective civil surgeons sent the samples last week. Reports are yet to be received,” he said.
The administration, though, has started taking additional precautions. Most patients in Amravati and Yavatmal are being kept in institutional quarantine and those having very mild symptoms are also being monitored strictly.
Sources also said the same mutation was found in one-third of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh’s coronavirus samples. As Yavatmal district shares boarders with Telangana, the new mutation could have its source in nearby border districts. Experts say this mutant is more infectious but severity of disease is very less as compared to others.
There were some travellers in Amravati with history of South Africa visits, said civil surgeon Dr Shyamsundar Nikam, adding they have been already contacted, tested, and people in their close contact are now being traced.
“We have sent five more samples for genome sequencing on February 17 and are awaiting their results,” Nikam said, adding that most patients admitted in Amravati have mild to moderate kind of infection. “Out of 1,860 patients under treatment, only two have severe level of infection and were given oxygen support, while 776 are admitted in institutional facilities and rest 1,082 are in home isolation,” he said.
In Yavatmal, civil surgeon Dr Tarangtushar Ware also asserted that official report of the genome sequencing has not been received yet. Out of 620 tests done in last 24 hours, 237 have tested positive in Yavatmal on Thursday. Here also, authorities have made it a point to hospitalize most of the positive cases.
Dr Samiran Panda, who heads the epidemiology division of the ICMR, said that the ICMR is closely watching the developments in Maharashtra. “There have been reports of lavish marriage parties and gatherings. The government needs to dissuade people from attending mass gatherings and observe all preventive measures,” added Dr Panda.
A senior Maharashtra government official said the mutations found in the samples are not new to India. “There are over 200 mutations found so far in India. We don’t need to panic about this. Contact tracing and other public health measures will be taken to check the spread of cases,” he said.
State public health secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas said that SARS-CoV-2 is a virus and viruses mutate. “Over 5,000 types of mutations have been recorded worldwide,” he said.