Categories: Uncategorized

B.1.617 variant found in 65% of samples sequenced, says health minister

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday that B.1.617, the variant of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) which has been identified as “variant of concern” by the World Health organization (WHO), has become the dominant one in the country. Vardhan was speaking at the 27th group of ministers’ (GoM) meeting on Covid-19.

“When we talk about genome sequencing, over 25,739 samples have been sequenced by INSACOG and 9,508 were found with variants of concern. Out of these, B.1.617 variant was found in almost 65 per cent of the samples making it one of the most common variants,” said Vardhan.

The INSACOG is a consortium of 10 institutes of the Centre, that is involved in the genome sequencing of the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

The health minister also said that state governments have been requested to send the samples regularly for genome sequencing.

Vardhan further highlighted that depite being a Sunday, more than 19 lakh samples were tested for Covid-19 on May 23, taking the cumulative total across the country beyond 33 crore.

Medically Speaking Team

Recent Posts

ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE IN INDIA: HOW IT’S MAKING INFECTION TREATMENT MORE CHALLENGING

Antibiotic use has surged globally, leading to a rise in antibiotic resistance, especially concerning in…

11 hours ago

CHILD DIES FROM CHOKING ON CANDY: HOW TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST CHOKING HAZARDS IN YOUNG CHILDREN

Choking is a leading cause of injury and death in young children, particularly those under…

12 hours ago

Video: How Hard Water Leads to Hair Fall and Expert Tips to Combat It

Hard Water (Khara Pani) Leading To Hair Fall Hard water is rich in minerals and…

14 hours ago

“How High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Is Rising: What Every Expectant Mother Should Know”

Discover how the rise in high blood pressure during pregnancy is impacting maternal and fetal…

14 hours ago

“Revitalize Your Weight Loss Journey: 6 Powerful Homemade Drinks to Naturally Melt Away Fat!”

"Discover the transformative power of six delicious homemade drinks that can help you naturally melt…

14 hours ago

“Revitalize Your Weight Loss Journey: 8 Powerful Fat-Flushing Drinks to Boost Your Results!”

"Transform your weight loss routine with these eight delicious fat-flushing drinks that not only hydrate…

14 hours ago