61% samples in Maharashtra show double mutant variant: Report

MUMBAI: 61 per cent of the COVID-19 samples taken from Maharashtra between January and March this year for genome sequencing have shown the presence of double mutant of the virus, officials said. It is being suspected as one of the prime reasons behind the second wave of COVID-19 in the country.

Officials of the National Institute of Virology, Pune, said that as many as 220 of the total 361 samples taken for genome sequencing have shown the presence of mutation in the novel coronavirus. Rajesh Tope, Minister of Health, Government of Maharashtra, said that the Government of India stated that there is no need of any change in the strategy. He has also asked the Centre to provide the detailed report of all the samples taken from Maharashtra for genome sequencing.

As the name suggests, double mutants involve two variants of the novel coronavirus. The National Institute of Virology showed that initially, the double mutant was found in three COVID-19 samples in Akola and one in Thane. By February, the variant was detected in 50 per cent of all the samples in 13 districts. Centre had also said last month that the double mutant of virus had been detected in 18 states in India.