KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia has recorded its first case of the “double mutant” Covid-19 variant originating from India.
In a tweet, Sunday, the Health Ministry said the B.1.617.1 strain was detected from analysis through whole-genome sequencing (WGS) after a screening was conducted at the main international entry point of the country.
The case was detected on an Indian national who was screened at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, the New Straits Times reported. The B.1.617 variant is feared to be contributing to a drastic increase in Covid-19 cases in India.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) had said the variant has been reported in at least 17 countries, rising global concern. It said the predominant lineage of B.1.617 was first identified in India last December, although an earlier version was spotted in October 2020.
The WHO had also described the Indian strain as a \"variant of interest\" (VOI), citing it may have mutations that would make the virus more transmissible, and cause more severe disease or evade vaccine immunity.
