How dangerous is the SARS-CoV-2 variant in India?

The strain B.1.167 containing the ‘double mutation’ L452R and E484Q is believed to be one of the reasons why India faced the COVID-19 crisis.
On October 5, 2020, the GISAID global database shared for the first time the genetic makeup of the B.1.617 mutant SARS-CoV-2 virus. India is the country with the most patients with B.1.617, followed by the UK, then the US. Up to now, there are 22 countries in the world infected with different degrees, but it is unclear where the origin of B.1.617 comes from.

B.1.617 dangerous? I think we now have two misunderstandings to avoid. One is the concept of the B.1.617 mutant strain originating from India and the other is the term “double mutation”. Because India is only a country with many patients infected with B.1.617 only, there is no evidence of virus mutation originating from this country. The term “double mutation” is used to refer to two mutations, E484Q and L452R. According to the evolutionary principle of all viruses, strain B.1.617, when sequencing genes, scientists found many different mutations. But two mutations that have caught the most attention of scientists are the E484Q mutation that can help the virus evade the immune system, and the L452R mutation, which can help the virus spread faster. In fact, the evolved virus would have so many mutations at once, so it’s not uncommon for two mutations like strain B.1.167 to even occur frequently in SARS-CoV-2 during the megalomania. Translate. Personally, I cannot say “double mutation” B.1.617 is double the danger. The E484Q mutation is similar to E484K, a mutation previously found in the virus variant in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. Likewise, the L452R mutation was present in the epidemic CAL.20C variant in California. Scientists disagree with the term “double mutation” when referring to variant B.1.617 because that term is easily misleading. They believe that if two mutations occur, the danger level will double. Immunologist and microbiologist Kristian Andersen (California Campus) and professor of microbiology Sharon Peacock (Cambridge University) are both very in-depth research on mutant virus strains, but they disagree when using use the term “double mutation”. On the other hand, they do not agree to assign the strain B.1.617 originating from India. Most experts believe that the mutant virus strain B.1.617 is not the cause of the epidemic in India out of control. Logically, strain B.1.617 appeared in India from October 5, 2020. Since that time India has been taking steps to control the disease very well, with many remarkable achievements. By November 2020, India has basically successfully controlled the epidemic, the number of cases per day has fallen to less than 10,000 people since the beginning of 2021. B.1.617 is present in 22 countries but still under control. When a virus variant appeared, scientists immediately studied four problems. The first is the ability to cause disease. The second is the ability to evade immunity and vaccines. The third is the trait of the new mutation from the previous variants and the fourth is the contagiousness of the new mutant strain. Dr Jeffrey Barrett, COVID-19 genomic research director at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said that variant B.1.617 is less severe than variants in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. On the extent of the spread, Barrett argues, it is clear that this variation in frequency increases in India creating a huge and tragic wave, but it will take months to reach the present dangerous state. This suggests that variant B.1.617 is less contagious than the UK mutant. Professor Richard Neher, who leads the research group on the evolution of the virus at the University of Basel also said that variant B.1.617 is no more severe than the other variants. Although B.1.617 is causing crisis, out of control, there is a risk of a complete collapse of the health system in India. But according to Dr. Christian Drosten, head of virology at Charité Hospital in Berlin, there is no reason to worry too much about the B.1.617 variant called a “double mutation”. Similarly, other virologists around the world have shared the same view that variant B.1.617 is more dangerous than the variants that happened in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. Vietnam once appeared outbreaks due to the B.1.1.7 variant of the UK occurred in Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, TP. Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and a few other provinces, but we controlled and extinguished it completely. The question is that B.1.617 has become the “tsunami” that knocked down the Indian giant, but with Vietnam, will we once again win? My answer is: “Vietnam has won against B.1.617 again!”. (Illustration) Causes of outbreaks in India Almost a week, India has 215 new infections and 1 death every minute, world records are continuously set. The old record just yesterday this morning was crushed, with more than 18 million patients and nearly 200,000 deaths. India became the second most heavily affected country in the world, only temporarily behind the US. The reason for the disaster was not due to the B.1,617 mutation, but some inaccurate information that created the illusion of both the government and the people. For example, the news that India has achieved herd immunity, or its outstanding record in epidemic control, has been accompanied by a series of internationally-acclaimed “humanitarian vaccines” policies. The Indian government prides itself on crushing the epidemic curve! In early 2021, the government’s anti-epidemic measures were loosened, and people’s guarding is inevitable. Google tracks the flow of people across countries, since January of this year, Indians have been shopping and moving a lot more. The density of people is quite high in public areas or on public transport, the frequency of activities of the people is close to the normal state when there has not been an epidemic. When people are subjective, personal protective measures such as wearing a mask, measuring body temperature, disinfecting, and keeping social distance are almost not complied with. That is a significant factor contributing to the rapid spread of the epidemic. A series of exciting activities in the locality, such as campaigning, rally, election, demonstrations of farmers, even holding a big wedding are also opportunities for COVID-19 to break out. But the most unfortunate thing is probably the traditional festivals, especially the Kumbh Mela festival with a huge influx of Hindu pilgrims, estimated at hundreds of millions, lasting through April. During the festival, nearly 5 million people jumped into the Ganges to baptize. Every day about a million people join the pilgrimage to pray, they squeeze wings and do not wear masks because they believe that India is immune to the herd, when in fact both the infected and the vaccinated people have not. up to 10% of the population. But … India still has a long way to go to have herd immunity. In Southeast Asia, from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand to the Philippines, the epidemic is booming, every country is also at risk of breaking the battle. What should Vietnam do? Vietnam will also not be immune from invasive diseases. But fortunately, each day Vietnam has more than 20 traditional festivals, but only small ones. I advocate scaling down these festivals, even canceling them if it’s not safe. As for the festival related to tourism, because the epidemic is still long, it is impossible to stop forever, fight against epidemics well to maintain activities aimed at socio-economic development, in which tourism is a very important part. In my opinion, in the coming time, an epidemic outbreak in India and surrounding countries, Vietnam needs to turn tourism and tourism-related festivals into forms of social relaxation. For example, during the 4-day holiday this weekend, tourist destinations just need to change the scale; Cancellation of all public gatherings during the festival, such as cancellation of firework events, cancellation of indoor stage performance events, cancellation of outdoor large stage performance events. If we do so, tourists are mostly going for a break, essentially like a round of social break. On the whole, this weekend of 4-day holiday, in my opinion is a great time to have a break, especially with families returning home, or the few who stay in the city also resting in place, So the 4-day vacation is a very good opportunity to prevent epidemics. Ultimately, we must still have a vaccine to tackle the pandemic.