Kamil Khafizov, head of the scientific group for the development of new methods for diagnosing human diseases at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, said that the Indian pathogen SARS-CoV-2, which has a double mutation, has not been detected in Russia. This was reported on Friday, April 23rd, by TASS.
According to the specialist, the absence of this strain was shown by the results of monitoring the genetic variability of the coronavirus in the Russian Federation, which is carried out by the laboratories of the institutes of Rospotrebnadzor.
“At the same time, several isolates were previously sequenced that have the mentioned mutations separately, but belong to other strains of the coronavirus,” Khafizov added.
On April 20, it became known that a new variant of the coronavirus was identified in the Indian state of West Bengal.
B.1.618 is characterized by a distinct set of genetic variants, including E484K, the main variant of immune evasion. Members of this lineage are also found in other parts of the world, but do not have the full range of variants as in India.
It is noted that this is the second line of SARS-CoV-2, which was identified from India. The first to be discovered was B.1.617, known as the double mutation variant of the coronavirus.
On March 24, a new type of coronavirus infection with a double mutation was identified in India. Then the authorities said that there is still little information to establish a direct link between the occurrence of mutations and the accelerated increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in a number of Indian states.