Mutations common but stay cautious of virus, say experts

After the new strain recognised in the United Kingdom — that’s more transmissible and more contagious — has raised the concerns of the public, experts say that several mutations of COVID-19 have occurred over the past few months in India with slight genetic modifications in the virus. However, the impact of the changes in the genetic modifications is not severe to be declared as a different strain. 

Microbiologists say that virus commonly witnesses mutations in a specific environment and evolve over a period of time for its survival. While the researchers study the impact of the changes observed in the variants, the public health experts say the local mutations cannot be declared as new strains without adequate research data. 

“The RNA viruses have the tendency to mutate and it is a natural process. The genetic modifications occur over a period of time and thus, small variations in the genetic material of the virus can be seen across the country since the time COVID-19 cases were reported,” says a microbiologist from the State Public Health Laboratory. 

He adds that the lineage seen in the United Kingdom is likely to have higher transmissibility and this is why it has been declared as an alarming situation and people travelling from the UK are being tested. “The lineage witnessed in the UK can be declared as the new strain only after the research data from several other countries are submitted to World Health Organisation and it is analysed to prove it as a new strain of COVID-19,” he says. 

Public health experts say though people should not panic concerning the new strain, they need to stay cautious of the health concerns caused due to the same, mainly the ones with comorbidities. 

“The mutations are common and have been seen throughout the country, but the impact of the new strain on the medications, antibodies or the vaccine being developed against the virus is to be studied. If the genetic variations are in a greater extent, only then the susceptibility of the medications vary. Currently, the same medications are being used on the patients and they are responding to the treatment,” says Public Health Director Dr K Kolandaisamy.