New strain of coronavirus: should India be worried?

New Delhi: Just as our hopes for the COVID19 vaccine were coming true, the UK government announced the discovery of a new, highly contagious variant circulating in England. Citing the rapid spread of the virus across London and surrounding areas, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has imposed the country’s toughest lockdown.

Scientists are worried about these variants but are not surprised by them. Like all viruses, the coronavirus is a shape-shifter. Some genetic changes are harmless. Researchers recorded thousands of tiny changes in the genetic material of the coronavirus as it spread across the world. The British variant affected the way the virus locks onto and infects human cells. These mutations can allow the variant to replicate and transmit more efficiently.

So the questions arise:

“Should India be worried? Are current vaccines working? How can we be more careful and if we need to stop its spread, what should we do?

Let’s understand this further.

What is the new strain?

The variant was identified due to the proactive and enhanced surveillance of Public Health England (PHE) following the increase in cases seen in Kent and London. The variant was named ‘VUI – 202012/01’ (the first variant under investigation in December 2020). It is not uncommon for viruses to mutate; the seasonal flu mutates every year.

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been observed in other countries, such as Spain as well. This variant includes a mutation in the “spike” protein. According to the researchers, this virus has at least 17 mutation changes. Changes in this part of the spike protein can cause the virus to become more infectious and to spread more easily between people.

How harmful is it?

While most mutations are harmful to the virus or have no effect, a few mutations in this new variant appeared to be able to affect the spread of the coronavirus. According to reports, the new variant of SARS-COV-2 could be up to 70% more transmissible than the old variant! What is more concerning is that this strain affects people between the ages of 30 and 60, which is quite young.

Preliminary data from the UK shows the virus is spreading rapidly in parts of southern England, displacing other variants that have been circulating for months. But there are still several unanswered questions that are multiplying as fast as a new strain of the virus: is it making people sicker? Does this mean prolonged treatments? Are current vaccines working?

The variant has already spread around the world. Besides the UK, the variant has been detected in India, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia, according to the WHO. A similar but distinct variant has also been identified in South Africa. Now that the world knows to look for the variant, it may appear in more countries. The Indian government has suspended flights from the UK over fears of the new strain.

Separately, several states are also taking action. Maharashtra has imposed a 11:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. curfew in major cities until January 5, 2021 and imposes 14 days of institutional quarantine for all travelers arriving from Europe and the Middle East without a negative COVID19 report (made within 72 hours of travel).

Will the vaccines work?

Vaccines target several parts of the protein itself, we don’t need to worry about that. We should be doing more genetic surveillance. In fact, I think people should get vaccinated. While there is a portion of people who encourage others not to get the vaccine, I urge people not to be overwhelmed by it. The lobby, because it raises doubts about the vaccine, will only make vaccine developers complain more about GMP and ensure that we get effective vaccines.

What precautions should we take?

The best way to fight infection is to play by the rules – wash your hands, wear a face mask, and maintain social distancing. The control measures recommended to limit the spread of the new variant continue to be tested, following existing isolation guidelines and respecting restrictions.

(The author, Dr Rahul Pandit, is Director of Intensive Care at Fortis Hospitals in Mumbai and a member of the Maharashtra COVID-19 Task Force)

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