PUNE: Global and national databases of genome sequencing and epidemiological data should be set up to track mutations in the pandemic virus,
World Health Organisation’s chief scientist
Dr Soumya Swaminathan has said.
She said India, with a huge capacity for genome sequencing, has to ensure the research is available on a single database. Both the UK and South Africa were able to detect the latest mutation as they could track epidemiological and clinical data.
Dr Swaminathan said there was still no evidence to suggest the strain impacts vaccines. But she added manufacturers will have to stay alert.
“It is unlikely that a couple of mutations in the spike protein can change the immune system’s response to a vaccine,” she said.
The top expert also did not rule out the variant’s spread to other parts of the world. “So far, what is known is that this variant’s R0 is higher and in the UK, there were several young people who were infected. But all other parameters are being studied,” she said.
The WHO scientist feels that there is a need for increasing testing and prevention of transmission by examining the samples that are available and having said she said one cannot rule out the possibility of transmission across the world.
She said that if more countries studied their genomic data, they may find this variant or other circulating variants . Like this B1.1.7 variant which was detected in September and then became the dominant variant in November. It is unlikely that a couple of mutations in the spike protein would change the response of the immune system to the vaccine, however manufacturers should keep a close watch and study the same, she said
As many as 30 countries including India have banned flights to and from the UK. Dr Swaminathan said experiments to better understand the new UK strain - labelled B.1.1.7 - were taking place, but said that these were going to take a couple of weeks to get results. "It is really important that all countries put in place measures to control the virus and bring down transmission. We know what these measures are - testing, and contact-tracing and isolation of positive cases and quarantining of contacts - this should continue," she reiterated.