Arushi Bidhuri
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Written By: Arushi Bidhuri | Updated : September 1, 2021 11:16 AM IST
New Mutation Of Covid-19 Delta Variant Reported In Japan
Following the significant increase in new cases of Covid-19 in January 2021, CDC issued updated guidance on the need for urgently increasing vaccination coverage and following appropriate guidelines due to the emergence of new Covid variants. Delta variant, which first emerged in India, crept its way to different countries and first led to a massive second wave in the country where it originated. By the time India took a sigh of relief, it became a dominant variant in several parts of the world. Data emerged that claimed that this variant is more infectious and may lead to increased transmissibility, as compared to other strains of Covid-19.
Currently the predominant variant in the United States, it doesn't seem to stay still. While scientists have already warned that viruses such as SARS -CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) tend to mutate, but the rate at which its mutating has got everyone in the world worried. To make matters worse, Japan has confirmed that a new mutation of the Delta strain has been detected in a person infected with the virus.
Local media reported on Tuesday that a new mutation of the Covid-19 Delta strain has been detected for the first time in Japan by a group of Japanese experts. The mutation was discovered after a patient infected with the Delta version visited the institute earlier this month, according to the study team led by Associate Professor Hiroaki Takeuchi of Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital. The N501S mutation was discovered through genetic analysis. According to the researchers, only eight occurrences of the mutation have been documented outside of Japan so far.
As per reports, when a patient contracts a coronavirus variant with the N501Y mutation, they are more likely to contract secondary infections, develop severe symptoms, and die. Patients infected with N501S may have a similar outcome to those infected with N501Y, according to researchers.
The N501S mutation is similar to the N501Y variation of the Alpha variant, which was first detected in the UK. The team said its impact on the virus's transmissibility is unclear so far, and researchers plan to study further. So, more research is needed to know how potent the new mutation is as compared to the original variant. Takeuchi said full efforts ought to be made to curb the Covid-19 infections, as the further spread of the virus could lead to the continued emergence of new variants in Japan.
The World Health Organization has designated Delta as one of four variants of concern and it has fast overtaken other strains in some parts of Japan, accounting for an estimated 5% of all cases. As per reports, the first infection with the delta form was discovered in Japan on April 20. Meanwhile, it has been reported that the delta variant is becoming prominent in the country. According to reports, 1,046 new cases of the delta variant were discovered in 17,701 COVID-19 cases chosen for variant screening in the third week of August.
(with inputs from agencies)
