A new “double mutant” variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been discovered in India, health officials said on Wednesday.
The country’s Ministry of Health said the variant was detected in more than 200 samples sequenced in the state of Maharashtra.
The variant has two mutations in the spike protein that the virus uses to penetrate human cells.
It is unclear whether the mutation will make it more transmissible, but other variants with changes in their peak proteins have spread rapidly around the globe.
However, officials said the double-mutant variant was not detected in large enough numbers to be linked to recent surges.
“Although [variants of concern] and a new double mutant variant was found in India, they were not detected in sufficient numbers to establish or establish direct relationships or to explain the rapid growth of cases in some states, “health officials said in a statement. communiqué.
“Genomic sequencing and epidemiological studies continue to analyze the situation.”
With Post threads