A new strain of coronavirus has been detected in India, the national health ministry announced on Wednesday, but officials have not yet determined whether the variant will help increase the number of cases in the country.
An analysis of samples from the state of Maharashtra found that there was an increase in the percentage of samples with two specific mutations, the health ministry wrote. The mutations that occurred in about 15-20% of the tested samples did not match any of the previously listed variants, he said.
According to The Associated Press, the state accounts for more than 60% of all active cases in India.
The new variant has two mutations in the spiky protein, which the virus uses to secure cells, said Dr. Rakesh Mishra, director of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in India, one of 10 research institutes that sequence the virus, according to AP.
Mishra added that these genetic differences could be worrying, as they can help increase infectivity and eliminate the virus from the immune system.
In addition to the new variant, sequencing in India also detected strains from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, the health ministry said. The most widespread in the country was the British version, she added.
Health officials and experts, however, have urged people not to link the variants to the growth of infections in India, the AP said.
According to the World Health Organization, coronavirus cases in India began to rise in February, after falling for several months. On Tuesday, the country reported 40,715 confirmed cases and 275 deaths, according to the WHO.
Health officials are now worried about upcoming spring festivals in India, the AP reported. The government has asked states to impose restrictions, but many holidays have ignored protocols on distance and the virus, the news service noted.
Hill contacted the World Health Organization for comments.