Delhi: Isolation ward for man with SA strain

New Delhi: Lok Nayak Hospital has created a special ward for isolating a 33-year-old man who was confirmed positive for Covid-19, which has been caused by the South Africa variant of the novel coronavirus.

Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director of the hospital, said this has been done to ensure the infection doesn’t spread. “This is the first case due to the South Africa variant in the city. We are taking extreme precaution to prevent the spread of the infection and also avoid mixing of this patient with others suffering from Covid-19,” he added.

Hospital sources said the 33-year-old from Kerala is asymptomatic. “He was transferred to Lok Nayak from the airport on his return from South Africa about 10 days ago after he tested positive,” said an official.

Multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, are circulating globally. The most significant among them is the UK variant, which was reported first from the UK, apart from the South Africa and the Brazil variant. Gradually, these variants spread to other countries.

According to the Centre for Disease Control, US, in January 2021, scientists from the UK reported evidence that suggested B.1.1.7 – the variant which originated there — may be associated with an increased risk of death compared with other variants. About the South Africa variant, the US health body suggested, this shared some mutations with B.1.1.7. (the UK variant).

“In Brazil, a variant of SARS-CoV-2 (P.1) emerged, which was first identified in four travelers, who were tested during routine screening at Haneda airport outside Tokyo. This variant has 17 unique mutations, including three in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein,” the CDC said.