JAMMU: As per the recent sequencing data analysis of positive COVID-19 patients received from NCDC, New Delhi, B.1.617 variant is responsible for the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Jammu Division of J&K.
Principal & Dean Government Medical College, Jammu, Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma said that the Department of Microbiology at GMC, Jammu besides testing of COVID-19 samples is also coordinating with NCDC New Delhi for routine sequencing of positive sample and as per the latest report received from them UK Variant was reported in >60% samples in March, 2021.
However, in April the %age of UK Variant dropped to 47% and B.1.617 increased from 5.8% to 38%. It is pertinent to mention here that the variant of SARS COV.2 has been observed to originate from a specific geographic location and with the time was able to move to other locations of the Globe.
These two variants found circulating in J&K have UK and Western Coastal States as the sites where original virus mutated and their observed changed in frequency in J&K is through Epidemiological investigation.
Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma further added that till date 434 samples have been sent to NCDC from Jammu Division among which a report of 64 samples is still awaited.
