In Delhi, the mutated COVID-19 virus strain has reached seven cases that was first identified in the United Kingdom. On Monday, three more people were tested positive for the mutated strain. All the patients are admitted at LokNayak Hospital.

The hospital sources said that a total of 50 coronavirus patients with a history of travel to the UK or were in direct contact with UK returnees are admitted. Out of them, seven people are tested positive for the mutated virus strain.

Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director of LokNayak Hospital, said that except one patient, other COVID-19 patients of the mutated strain are stable. This one patient has severe symptoms and is administered anti-viral drugs. The patient is 47-year-old and requires oxygen therapy on an intermittent basis.

Throughout India, the total number of persons who are affected by the new virus strain has reached 38. The Union health ministry stated that the situation is under careful observation and regular guidance is provided to the states for improved surveillance, containment along with testing and dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs.

Dr Samiran Panda, who is a head of epidemiology and communicable diseases and division and director and scientist of ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, said that high transmission of the mutated strain does not essentially go hand in hand with high virulence. A virus can be a smart virus, while going through the process of progression and mutation. It only takes a form when it is capable of getting easily transmitted from one of its hosts to another host. Yet, the same mutant virus will also need its host to stay alive so it can survive on the host and more precisely the living cells of its host in which the virus attaches and enters.

Source: ET Healthworld