Bhubaneswar: In a good sign, the presence of the B.1.617 strain — the double-mutant that fuelled the COVID second wave in India — has reduced by almost one-third in Odisha. This was revealed by the genome sequencing of samples in the state in the last week of May.
According to the study, the new mutations of the variant strain were found in only around 40% samples. This was a dip from 60% samples in the first week of May.
“The reduction in numbers also translates into declining transmissibility, which is a good sign,” the Director of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Sujeet Kumar Singh, was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
Dr Singh attributed this decline to development of antibodies. “A majority of the community got exposed due to rapid infection and this led to the development of antibodies. Once the community has got antibodies, then the infection rate automatically declines,” he said.
The top expert further praised the current vaccination and COVID-appropriate behaviour by more people for slowing the infection rate.
A researcher associated with the genome sequencing revealed that of the three lineages of B.1.617, two lineages — B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 — have been detected in Odisha so far
The highest 51 samples with the B.1.617.2 strain were found in Angul, followed by 36 in Khurda and 26 in Kalahandi, 15 in Puri, 14 in Mayurbhanj, nine in Bhadrak and eight in Jharsuguda.
The B.1.617.1 lineage was found in 13 samples in Angul, 11 in Bhubaneswar, eight in Khurda, seven each in Kalahandi and Mayurbhanj.
