New Delhi: After spearheading a successful fight against Covid-19 pandemic, Uttar Pradesh government has now shifted focus on new Coronavirus strain.
The new strain of Covid-19, which broke out in United Kingdom, poses a big challenge as its spreading rate is about 70% higher than Coronavirus.
To nip this new strain in the bud, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued instructions to start Genome Sequencing of novel coronavirus in the King George Medical University (KGMU) for the detection of a new strain.
This move will not only assist in determining severity of the strain but will also help in providing better treatment and management of COVID-19.
Dr. Amita Jain, Head of Department of Microbiology at KGMU said that earlier, with the help of Genome Sequencer Machine, samples of 10 corona-positive patients have been examined but after the purchase of reagent kits, samples on a larger scale can be examined.”
Jain stated, “We have tested ten samples of patients suffering from coronavirus, fortunately, not a single sample with new strain was detected. After the purchase of the reagent kits required to analyse the genetic material of novel coronavirus, we will be able to test more samples every day. This sample test will only examine the new strain of coronavirus in the patient.”
Why is Genome Sequencing important?
Genome Sequencing is mandatory to check which strain is present in the patient suffering from COVID-19. For this, firstly RT-PCR test of the patient will be done, if the report comes positive then the sample will be examined to identify the strain present in the patient.
Earlier, the samples were sent to Pune for the test but now after the availability of the reagent kits in UP, samples will be examined in the state.
Apart from KGMU, the Genome sequencing study will also start at Bananas Hindu University, CDRI, and NBRI.
