Odisha

UK Strains In Odisha: All Patients Cured, Nobody Contracted Infection: ILS Director

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: In a further clarification on detection of three mutant strains found in 5 samples from people who returned to Odisha from UK last year, the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) has stated that there is no need for panic as the strains have not spread to anybody.

Speaking to media on Thursday, ILS director Dr Ajay Parida said all the patients detected with new strains have been cured and nobody has contracted the infection from them.

Besides, a person from Nuapada district, who had returned from Maharashtra, was found with double mutation variant. But Dr Parida said the mutation was not significant as it was a very old sample and no further infection spread has been identified.

The COVID-19 variants were detected from the samples taken from 181 people who had returned to Odisha from UK between November 31 and December 21. Seven of them had tested positive for coronavirus and the three strains were found in 5 of them, a TNIE report stated.

Apart from the seven samples sequenced at Pune, genome sequencing of 125 samples were conducted at the ILS, a part of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics comprising 10 national laboratories, between December and March.

Five samples from Odisha have been found with the N440K variant that is associated with immune escape and one sample with the E484Q and L452R double mutation, which confer immune escape and increased infectivity.

Dr Parida also stated that the situation leading to spread of re-infection of coronavirus has not emerged in the state till now. “We are now sequencing 200 more samples from Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. The results are awaited,” he added.

On Wednesday, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Pradipta Mohapatra had said, “The state government knew about the detection of the three UK strains in the state in December last year. But it was kept under wraps apprehending that people will panic.”

Also Read: Odisha Govt Knew About Detection Of Three UK Strains Since December Last Year!

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Vigilance Apprehends College Principal While Taking Rs 1 Lakh Bribe In Odisha’s Nayagarh

Bhubaneswar: Vigilance has apprehended a college principal while taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh…

November 26, 2024

FIR Against ‘Pushpa 2’ Actor Shri Tej For Cheating & Exploiting Woman

Mumbai: Ahead of the release of Allu Arjun's highly-anticipated ‘Pushpa: The Rule’, one of the…

November 26, 2024

Odisha Govt Rejects IAS Officer Sujata Karthikeyan’s Leave Extension Application

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has rejected the application of IAS officer Sujata R Karthikeyan for…

November 26, 2024

16 Years Of 26/11: Terrorists Targeting India Will Get Befitting Reply, Warns PM Modi

New Delhi: It was the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on Tuesday,…

November 26, 2024

Naga Chaitanya, Sobhita Dhulipala Sell Their Wedding Rights To Netflix For Rs 50 Crore: Report

Mumbai: Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala’s wedding, to be held in December, is a high-profile…

November 26, 2024

Odisha Govt Plans To Ask MLAs To Adopt Orphaned Children, Says Dy CM

Bhubaneswar: In order to ensure a better future for orphaned children, the Odisha government is…

November 26, 2024

Donald Trump To Impose Tariffs On These Countries; Will India Be Exempted?

New Delhi: Donald Trump, who will take oath as the 46th President of USA on…

November 26, 2024

Actress Rani Priyadarshini Meets Odisha Law Minister To Raise Concern Over STA’s ‘Unjust’ Action Against Her

Bhubaneswar: Odia Jatra actress Rani Priyadarshini on Tuesday met Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan to express…

November 26, 2024