Jammu: A senior doctor and a faculty member at the Government Medical College, Jammu on Saturday attributed spike in coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir to B.1.617 variant of the deadly infection.
As per the recent sequencing data analysis of positive COVID-19 patients received from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) New Delhi, B.1.617 variant is responsible for the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Jammu Division of JK UT, an official spokesperson said.
According to him, the Principal & Dean GMC Jammu, Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma said that the Department of Microbiology at GMC, Jammu besides testing of COVID-19 samples is also coordinating with NCDC New Delhi for routine sequencing of positive sample and as per the latest report received from them UK Variant was reported in >60% samples in March, 2021.
“However, in April the percentage of UK Variant dropped to 47% and B.1.617 increased from 5.8% to 38%. It is pertinent to mention here that the variant of SARS COV.2 has been observed to originate from a specific geographic location and with the time was able to move to other locations of the Globe,” the official spokesperson said.
He further said that these two variants found circulating in the UT have UK and Western Coastal States as the sites where original virus mutated and their observed changed in frequency in UT is through Epidemiological investigation.
“Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma further added that till date 434 samples have been sent to NCDC from Jammu Division among which a report of 64 samples is still awaited,” he added.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
