Under the title "Evasion and Deception... What Do We Know So Far About the Indian Variant and Its Symptoms?", the Al Arabiya website published news about the mutated coronavirus in India, highlighting the panic gripping the country following the outbreak of a new variant of the virus referred to as the Indian strain. This has led many countries to suspend flights to and from India in an effort to curb the virus's spread to other nations.
Scientists are investigating the reasons behind the current rise in infection rates in India and whether it is related to the mutated strain called B.1.617, first identified in the country. The World Health Organization has not declared the Indian strain as "a variant of concern," as it has for other variants initially detected in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. However, on April 27, the organization stated that genomic sequencing of the B.1.617 strain indicates a higher growth rate compared to other strains in India.
The World Health Organization reported that the B.1.617 variant, commonly known as the Indian variant due to its initial discovery in India, has been found in more than 1,200 genomic sequences across at least 17 countries. The organization clarified in its weekly epidemic report that most samples are coming from India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Singapore. Recently, the variant has also been reported in various European countries such as Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, and Italy.
The World Health Organization added that B.1.617 has a higher growth rate than other circulating variants in India, which may indicate it is more contagious. According to data from India's health ministry, as of Sunday, there were 392,488 new infections and 3,689 deaths reported within the last 24 hours. The total number of infections in India now stands at 19.56 million, with 215,542 deaths due to the virus. The spread of the infection has led to a collapse of the healthcare system in some areas, including the capital, New Delhi, with shortages of medical oxygen and hospital beds.
As Indian hospitals struggle to maintain a steady supply of oxygen, and more COVID-19 patients die from its shortage, a Delhi court announced on Sunday that it would begin penalizing government officials for their failure to deliver life-saving materials. The government is utilizing railways, air force, and navy to transport oxygen containers quickly to the hardest-hit areas where overcrowded hospitals are unable to cope with an unprecedented surge in patients gasping for air. Crematoriums have not ceased operations; their chimneys are cracking, and the metal frameworks of the furnaces are melting due to intense heat.
### Key Information and Symptoms
The most important information about the Indian mutated strain, as reported by the Times of India, is as follows:
1. It first appeared in October of last year, specifically in Maharashtra, western India, and was present in about 220 samples initially.
2. Numerous studies are being conducted to examine the characteristics of the Indian mutated strain, which has shown considerable similarities to both the South African and Brazilian variants.
3. The danger of the Indian strain lies in it representing a new mutation of the virus, making it harder for the immune system to recognize and produce antibodies against it.
4. The Indian strain's risk increases because it is located in a crucial part of the virus's spike protein that penetrates the immune system and is difficult to identify for an immune attack.
5. The Indian variant differs from others due to its rapid spread and ability to penetrate the immune system and reproduce within the body.
6. Those infected suffer from severe respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and a sense of suffocation.
7. Loss of taste and smell are also ongoing symptoms in the Indian mutated strain.
8. Oxygen deficiency and the formation of blood clots are the most dangerous complications afflicting those infected with this strain.
9. Ignoring preventive measures such as social distancing and wearing masks are significant factors that led to the emergence of the Indian strain.
10. The fate of the Indian mutated strain remains uncertain in relation to vaccines until its characteristics and the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against it are determined.
### Fauci: Lockdown is the Solution
Meanwhile, White House medical advisor Anthony Fauci stated in comments published on Saturday that India would need to impose a lockdown for several weeks to contain the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. The Indian Express quoted Fauci in an interview, saying, "I think the most important thing right now is to secure oxygen, equipment, medications, and protective gear... but among other things that need to happen immediately is a nationwide lockdown... It doesn't have to be for six months; a temporary lockdown can be imposed to curb the cycle of transmission."
