INSACOG Labs Release Genome Sequencing Results of Mutated SARS-CoV-2

The Indian government noted the mutant variant of SARS- CoV-2 virus reports and adopted a strategy to detect and prevent the new mutant of the virus. INSACOG Labs i.e. Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium has released the initial results of the genome sequencing of the new mutant.

Strategy of the Indian Government

The strategy of India to detect and contain the new mutant of the virus included the following steps-

• Suspending all flights from the UK from December 23 to 31, 2020.
• Testing of all air passengers from the UK through RT-PCR test mandatorily.
• Genome Sequencing of all positive samples in RT-PCR test by a consortium of 10 government labs i.e. INSACOG.
• National Task Force (NTF) meeting on December 26, 2020, for recommending Testing, Treatment, and Containment Strategy.
• Issuing Standard Operating Protocol for all States/UTs of the country for countering the new mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2.

What has happened till now?

• Around 33,000 passengers reached the Indian airports from the UK from November 25 to December 23, 2020. All these passengers are being tracked and they are being subjected to RT-PCR tests.
• As of now, 114 people have been found positive and their samples have been sent to 10 INSACOG labs for genome sequencing.
• The 10 INSACOG labs are ILS Bhubaneswar, NIBMG Kolkata, NCDC Delhi, NIV Pune, CDFD Hyderabad, NIMHANS Bengaluru, InSTEM Bengaluru, CCMB Hyderabad, IGIB Delhi, and CCS Pune.

INSACOG Lab results

As per the initial results by INSACOG labs, 6 samples have been found positive for the new mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2. Out of the 6 positive samples, 2 have been identified in CCMB, Hyderabad; 3 in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and 1 in NIV, Pune.