Coronavirus variant N440K is prevalent since last year in south India and it is diminishing, say scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). 
 
Several reports have emerged suspecting the role of the variant behind the surge in Covid cases in Andhra Pradesh. 
 
"The mutant is not new. We have been seeing it in south India since last year," the scientists said on Wednesday.

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The new Covid variant, named as the AP strain, which was identified in Kurnool district, is believed to be 15 times more deadly and stronger than other Indian variants. 
 
When the variant was examined in controlled cell culture, it made more copies. However, "it does not necessarily mean that it can compete with other variants just the same way in a real life pandemic where new variants keep coming up. Our genome studies say that N440K is now diminishing", the scientists said. 
 
The N440K variant, associated with immune escape, had been detected in the labs of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG). 
 
INSACOG, a grouping of 10 national laboratories -- has been carrying out genomic sequencing and analysis of circulating Covid-19 viruses, and correlating epidemiological trends with genomic variants. 
 
The variant was found in 123 samples from 11 districts in Kerala; 33 per cent of samples from Andhra Pradesh, and in 53 of 104 samples from Telangana.

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It has also been reported from 16 other countries, including the UK, Denmark, Singapore, Japan and Australia. As of now, these can be at best said to be variants under investigation. 
 
"Our main focus as a community should be on reducing the spread of coronavirus. The more it spreads, the more variants come up, the more mess we create by increasing uncertainties and fear," the scientists said. 
 
"Mask up, avoid crowds by all means, maintain hygiene and good ventilation, and take your vaccine shots. They all help in preventing the spread of the virus in one way or the other," they added.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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Coronavirus variant N440K is prevalent since last year in south India and it is diminishing, say scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).

Coronavirus variant N440K is prevalent since last year in south India and it is diminishing, say scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). Several reports have emerged suspecting the role of the variant behind the surge in Covid cases in Andhra Pradesh. "The mutant is not new. We have been seeing it in south India since last year," the scientists said on Wednesday. The new Covid variant, named as the AP strain, which was identified in Kurnool district, is believed to be 15 times more deadly and stronger than other Indian variants. When the variant was examined in controlled cell culture, it made more copies. However, "it does not necessarily mean that it can compete with other variants just the same way in a real life pandemic where new variants keep coming up. Our genome studies say that N440K is now diminishing", the scientists said. The N440K variant, associated with immune escape, had been detected in the labs of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG). INSACOG, a grouping of 10 national laboratories -- has been carrying out genomic sequencing and analysis of circulating Covid-19 viruses, and correlating epidemiological trends with genomic variants. The variant was found in 123 samples from 11 districts in Kerala; 33 per cent of samples from Andhra Pradesh, and in 53 of 104 samples from Telangana. It has also been reported from 16 other countries, including the UK, Denmark, Singapore, Japan and Australia. As of now, these can be at best said to be variants under investigation. "Our main focus as a community should be on reducing the spread of coronavirus. The more it spreads, the more variants come up, the more mess we create by increasing uncertainties and fear," the scientists said. "Mask up, avoid crowds by all means, maintain hygiene and good ventilation, and take your vaccine shots. They all help in preventing the spread of the virus in one way or the other," they added. (With inputs from agencies)

N440K Covid variant not new, diminishing in India, says CSIR

India has become the second country in the world to pass the grim milestone of 20 million infections after the United States.

It took more than 10 months for India to add the first 10 million cases and just four months to add the second 10 million - more than double the pace of infection, which is fast spreading.

In the last 24 hours, India has added another 350,000 cases, slightly less than Monday. However, it is hardly a figure that gives any relief.

India's active cases now represent 17 per cent of the total caseload with more than three million people currently positive and over 16 million patients who have recovered.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-new-wuhan-virus-variant-found-in-india-382820">Watch |</a>

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The death toll is still mounting, with close to 3,500 deaths in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;But the bad news doesn't end there. There are reports of a new mutation called the "N440K variant" or the AP variant, a reference to the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh where it was first detected.

Everything about the AP variant is alarming as reports say the variant has already moved beyond Andhra Pradesh. It has been found in 20 to 30 per cent of the samples in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

The strain is said to be at least 15 times more virulent than the earlier ones, which means it spreads even faster. It has a shorter incubation period and the infection spreads much more rapidly within the human body.

More studies are needed to confirm these findings but, it is a worrying development, not just for India, but for the rest of the world because there's no telling which form and shape the virus takes next and vaccines are the only way to control it - not borders and flight bans.

India has become the second country in the world to pass the grim milestone of 20 million infections after the United States. It took more than 10 months for India to add the first 10 million cases and just four months to add the second 10 million - more than double the pace of infection, which is fast spreading.

India has become the second country in the world to pass the grim milestone of 20 million infections after the United States. It took more than 10 months for India to add the first 10 million cases and just four months to add the second 10 million - more than double the pace of infection, which is fast spreading. In the last 24 hours, India has added another 350,000 cases, slightly less than Monday. However, it is hardly a figure that gives any relief. India's active cases now represent 17 per cent of the total caseload with more than three million people currently positive and over 16 million patients who have recovered. Watch | The death toll is still mounting, with close to 3,500 deaths in the last 24 hours. But the bad news doesn't end there. There are reports of a new mutation called the "N440K variant" or the AP variant, a reference to the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh where it was first detected. Everything about the AP variant is alarming as reports say the variant has already moved beyond Andhra Pradesh. It has been found in 20 to 30 per cent of the samples in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The strain is said to be at least 15 times more virulent than the earlier ones, which means it spreads even faster. It has a shorter incubation period and the infection spreads much more rapidly within the human body. More studies are needed to confirm these findings but, it is a worrying development, not just for India, but for the rest of the world because there's no telling which form and shape the virus takes next and vaccines are the only way to control it - not borders and flight bans.

India's Andhra Pradesh COVID-19 variant: N440K is 15 times more virulent

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