Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 25: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today called for genetic testing of positive samples to look for new Covid-19 variants in the Valley.
In a statement issued here, DAK president, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said that genetic testing would not only help identify known mutants that might have entered Kashmir but also check whether any mutant has emerged within the region.
“Detecting and tracking variants is critical to prevent another deadly wave of Covid-19 like the one we saw earlier; picking up variants is key to formulate appropriate and effective health policy that would help prevent and control their spread in the community,” he said.
Dr Nisar said that if we don’t know the changes in the genetic structure of the virus, we are running blind.
“Viruses tend to mutate and thousands of Covid-19 mutations have been recorded across the globe since the outbreak of the pandemic.”
He said that most mutations are meaningless, but others can make a virus more infectious, deadly or resistant to vaccines and treatment.
“Three foreign strains – UK, South African and Brazilian strains that have found their way into India spread more easily and research is underway if they can cause more serious disease.”
“Recently, two highly mutated variants – N440K and E484K have been found in Maharashtra, Kerala and Telangana have raised concern because their presence have been detected at a time when cases are rising in these states,” Dr Nisar said.
He said that the new variants spread through the same old ways. “They spread between people through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks,” he said.
“This means that wearing a mask, following hand hygiene and maintaining physical distance remain the principal ways to avoid getting the infection from the new variants.”
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