Mumbai (Maharashtra): As Maharashtra witnesses a rise in COVID cases, experts said that a new variant of the virus might have been found in the state's Amravati and Yavatmal.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, member of the state Corona Task Force Shashank Joshi said that the variant is not foreign, and the virus has mutated itself. Now, the need of the hour is to take more precaution and not panic, he said.
E384K - The mutated variant
As four patients in Amravati and one in Akola have reportedly been found infected by the new variant, the entire Vidarbha region is in a state of panic. The patients are being treated and the administration is taking necessary precautions.
The variant in Amravati and Yawatmal is entirely Indian and its name is E384K, Joshi opined.
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Experts have warned that the new variant found in India is definitely a cause of concern. However, it is pertinent to note that more than 5,000 mutations of the Coronavirus have been found across the world.
The virus is reportedly constantly changing its genetic structure, leading to the discovery of new variants.
New variant dangerous, spreads fast
Joshi said that the E384K variant is a mutated virus, and is hence dangerous as it spreads rapidly.
However, there is no need to panic as the necessary treatment is available in India and focus should be on tracing and testing, he said, suggesting that the citizens need to cover their faces with two masks at a time now.
Read: Lockdown in Maharashtra's Amravati after surge in COVID cases
Samples sent to NIV
The swab samples of the patients from Amravati, Yawatmal, Satara and Pune had been sent to B J Medical College and Hospital for testing. The report reportedly revealed that these variants are not like the ones found in Britain, Africa, Brazil or any other foreign country.
The samples have been sent to National Virology Institution (NIV) and National Cells Science Institute in Pune for testing. The report is expected to be submitted within a week. After the examination of the report, truth in experts' opinion can be judged.
More info required: IMA state president
"Corona cases are increasing in Amravati, Nagpur and other parts of Vidarbha. Cases here are increasing faster than in Mumbai city. Two days ago there was a poster circulating on social media claiming patients from Amravati and Nagpur contracted the Brazil strain of the virus," said Dr Avinash Bhondwe, President, Indian Medical Association-Maharashtra State.
"People believed that due to this strain, COVID cases are increasing. They also believed that the Brazil strain came to India via international travellers. But the Maharashtra government has clarified that this is not true. More information needs to be published regarding increasing Covid cases in Vidarbha region," he added.
D614G variant
In some places in the state, a new variant D614G has reportedly been found. The same virus has been found in samples collected from Pune and Satara. No mutated virus found in Britain, South Africa or Brazil reportedly exists in these samples.
Maximum testing needed
Pune based Dr. Rajesh said that, the genetic structure of variant found in Yawatmal, Amravati and Satara is slightly different from each other. But, they do not contain mutated variants found in foreign countries. "We need to conduct more tests and if we find mutations, we should be alert. Coronavirus undergoes mutation to grow itself. So, more testing is needed and we will have to see exact impact it creates," opined Dr Rajesh.
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