The genomic surveillance consortium, INSACOG, has been formed under the direction of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi. In addition, more than 50 samples from returnees from the UK are currently being sequenced at designated laboratories.
Five percent of Covid-19 positive cases from all states and UTs will be tested for whole genome sequencing (WGS) as part of the strategy that has been put in place to detect and contain the mutant variant, the Union health ministry said after a National Task Force (NTF) meeting in Covid-19 on the subject.
“It is proposed to continue improved genomic surveillance for the early detection and containment of SARS-CoV-2 strains in the United Kingdom. However, it is important to understand that, like all other RNA viruses, SARS-CoV -2 will continue to mutate “. said the ministry.
The mutated virus can also be contained through measures such as social distancing, hand hygiene, wearing masks and also through an effective vaccine, depending on when it is available, according to the ministry.
The NTF meeting was convened on Saturday by ICMR under the co-chairmanship of Dr. Vinod Paul, member of NITI Aayog and Dr. Balram Bhargava, Secretary, ICMR General Manager.
The main objective of the meeting was to discuss evidence-based modifications to SARS-CoV-2 testing, treatment, and surveillance strategies in light of recent reports of the emergence of a new strain variant of the virus. of the United Kingdom.
It was stressed that, since the UK variant strain is involved in causing increased transmissibility of the virus, it is crucial to identify individuals infected with this strain and contain them properly to prevent their transmission to India.
Real-time updates to coronavirus pandemic
The NTF concluded that there is no need to change the existing treatment protocol in view of the mutations appearing in the strain.
In addition, since ICMR has always advocated the use of two or more gene assays to test for SARS-CoV-2, infected cases are unlikely to be lost through the current testing strategy, the ministry said.
The NTF recommended that, in addition to existing surveillance strategies, improved genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 is crucial, especially on incoming passengers from the UK.
The meeting was also attended by Professor Randeep Guleria, Director of AIIMS; Director General of Health Services (DGHS); Comptroller General of Drugs of India (DCGI); Director, National Center for Disease Control (NCDC); other representatives of the Ministry of Health and ICMR, as well as experts on independent issues.
“The variant variety has 14 non – synonymous mutations (alteration of amino acids), 6 synonyms (do not alter amino acids) and 3 deletions.
“Eight mutations are present in the Spike (S) gene that carries the binding site (receptor binding domain) of ACE2 receptors, which are the entry point of the virus into human respiratory cells,” he said. say the ministry in its statement.
The NTF deliberated in detail on aspects related to the current National Treatment Protocol, testing strategy and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 against the UK variant variety.
The NTF was of the opinion that genome sequencing would also be essential in samples where there is an abandonment of the S gene in the laboratory diagnosis, proven cases of reinfections, etc. Routine genomic monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 representatives samples from all samples should be a continuous and well-planned activity, according to the statement.
Among the designated laboratories where sequenced specimens of returnees from the United Kingdom are currently shown are -NCDC, Delhi; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi; CSIR- Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad and DBT- Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar.
It is also done at the DBT-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani; DBT-InStem-National Center for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru; National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru and National Institute of Virology, Pune.
The NCDC reported that the Center has been aware of reports of the mutant variant and the response of other countries to these reports.
The situation is proactively controlled.
A strategy has been put in place whereby all passengers who had arrived from the UK between 21 and 23 December have been tested at airports and only after the results of the PCR test are available will passengers be allowed negatives leave airports.
All positively tested passengers are institutionally isolated and their samples are sent for whole genome sequencing (WGS).
Only after confirmation of the non-mutant variant after the WGS result, positive cases are allowed to leave institutional isolation according to the existing management protocol.
All positive case contacts are also quarantined at the facility and tested according to ICMR guidelines.
In addition, the Bureau of Immigration has shared the list of all arrivals in the UK over the past 28 days with interested states.
All passengers who had arrived from the UK between 25 November and 20 December 2020 are being tracked by the IDSP’s State Surveillance Units (SSU) and District Surveillance Units (DSU).
Samples of all positive cases are sent to WGS and improved monitoring of these positive cases is being carried out and these contacts are also quarantined at the facility.