There is a fair possibility that, genomic experts suggest, half of those who have tested positive after coming from the UK could be possible carriers in India of the latest, more contagious Covid-19 strain. In India, 20 passengers from the United Kingdom have tested positive for coronavirus so far.
We know that 20 of the passengers from the UK who came to India yesterday were found to be optimistic. In addition, 60 percent of the positive strains in the UK currently have this strain.
It is quite probable by that estimate that of these 20, half of them will be carrying the latest version. That may also be a matter of chance if they came from the town where the latest variant is not known. But some of them are highly likely to bring the latest version,’ said Dr. Rakesh Mishra, Director of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.
‘No need to assess the ones who arrived months ago,’
They will be quarantined separately, as these individuals have been contained. In checking those who came a month ago, there is no point. They may have turned asymptomatic already and spread whatever they had to others,’ the expert said.
With several countries having banned international travel with the United Kingdom, the new version B.1.1.7 has created a stir in the world. Twenty passengers who arrived in India from the UK tested positive on Tuesday. Their samples were obtained in Indian laboratories and will be genome sequenced.
Report- Mona Haidri
