New mutation of Delta variant of COVID-19 detected in Nepal

KATHMANDU, June 21:  A new mutation of Delta variant of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been detected in Nepal, according to the Ministry of Health and Population ( MoHP).

Of 48 swab samples of people living across the country collected from May 9 to June 3, Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of COVID-19 was detected in 47 samples and Alfa (B.1.1.7) in one, according to a press statement issued by MoHP.

Likewise, of the 47 swab samples tested positive for the Delta variant, a new K417N mutation was detected in nine samples.

This new mutation has been detected in 10 countries along with Nepal so far and  is considered more infectious and fatal to all age groups.

Earlier, Nepal had sent 48 swab samples to the WHO-identified Center for Excellence in Genomics, The Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) at New Delhi in India for testing.