A new strain of coronavirus has been detected in India, the country’s health ministry announced on Wednesday, but officials have not yet determined whether the variant contributes to an increase in cases in the country.
An analysis of samples from the state of Maharashtra found that there was an increase in the percentage of samples with two specific mutations, the health ministry wrote. Mutations that appeared in approximately 15 to 20 percent of the tested samples did not match any of the variants listed above, he noted.
According to The Associated Press, the state accounts for more than 60 per cent of all active cases in India.
The new variant has two mutations in the spiked protein, which the virus uses to secure itself to cells, Dr. according to the AP.
Mishra added that these genetic differences can be worrisome because they can help increase infectivity and help the virus escape the immune system.
In addition to the new variant, sequencing in India also detected strains from the UK, South Africa and Brazil, according to the health ministry. The most widespread in the country was the UK variant, he added.
However, health officials and experts urged people not to relate the variants to the rise in infections in India, the AP noted.
According to data from the World Health Organization, coronavirus cases in India began to rise in February, after falling for several months. On Tuesday, the country reported 40,715 confirmed cases and 275 deaths, according to the WHO.
Health officials are now worried about the upcoming spring festivals in India, the AP reported. The government has urged states to impose restrictions, but many celebrities have ignored distancing protocols and viruses, the news service noted.
The Hill contacted the World Health Organization for comment.